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AESOP   AND   HYSSOP 


Aesop  and  Hyssop 

Being 

Fables   Adapted   and   Original   with   the   Morals 
Carefully  Formulated 

By 

William  Ellery  Leonard 


Duplex  libelli  dos  est:  quod  risum  movet, 

Et  quod  prudenti  vitam  consilio  monet. — Phaedrus 

But  ye  that  holden  this  tale  a  folye, 

As  of  a  fox,  or  of  a  cok  and  hen, 

Taketh  the  moralitee,  good  men. — Chaucer. 


Chicago 

The  Open  Court  Publishing  Co. 
1912 


COPYRIGHT  BY 

THE  OPEN  COURT  PUBLISHING  CO. 
IQI2 


I  f/Z 


DEDICATION 
TO   LUDWIG  LEWISOHN 

To  you,  judicious  and  discerning 
In  wit,  in  poetry,  and  learning, 
I  dedicate  these  random  pages. 

Here  is  the  wisdom  of  the  ages; 
No  insight  of  the  Galilean, 
No  visions  to  the  empyrean; 
But  clever  perspicacity 
Of  honest  old  sagacity, 
That  Man  has  often  found  amusing — 
And  in  his  conduct  failed  of  using. 
For,  though  the  tales  were  made  for  reasons, 
As  fitting  special  times  and  seasons, 
Yet,  even  as  men  are  more  than  nations, 
They  still  have  divers  applications. 
They  go  by  name  of  TEsop  briefly — 
Since  /Esop  didn't  write  them  chiefly. 
For  some  are  earlier,  some  later. 

You'll  note,  professor,  how  I  cater 
To  current  times  and  tastes,  by  adding 
Felicities  of  puck-and-padding. 

iii 


JESOP  AND  HYSSOP 

Thus  Phaedrus,  La  Fontaine,  and  Gay*  did; 
But  I've  done  wiselier  than  they  did: 
Their  aim  finesse  and  delicacy — 
Mine  is  the  mischievous  and  racy. 
At  times  indeed  I'm  frolicksomer 
Than  diner-out  or  traveling  drummer. 
(The  mock  address  to  babes  and  sucklings 
Should  aid  the  older  reader's  chucklings.) 
And  where  some  stupid  predecessor 
Quite  missed  the  moral,  O  professor, 
I've  set  it  down,  and  would  submit  it 
To  your  decision  if  I've  hit  it. 
And  sundry  fables  are  provided 
That  (fust  between  ourselves,  sir)  I  did — 
Entirely  new,  and,  to  my  thinking, 
As  good  as  JEsop's  in  the  inking, 
That  critics  even  of  some  pretensions 
Will  scarce  detect  as  my  inventions. 

W.  E.  L. 

*  I  mentioned  the  distinguished  Gay 
Because  the  rhyme  was  on  my  way. 
In  truth,  his  Fables,  if  you'll  look, 
Are  not  derived  from  JEsop's  book. 
Although  the  manner  was  suggested, 
He  didn't  borrow  as  the  rest  did. 
I  add  this  note,  as  my  relation 
To  culture  and  to  education 
Might  be  imperilled,  should  men  say, 
"The  fellow  doesn't  know  his  Gay." 
(I've  read  all  books  in  belletristic, 
Composed  of  old  by  that  or  this  stick.)  . . 


iv 


PREFACE 


PREFACE. 

Children,  old  Plato  tells  how  Socrates, 

Condemned  to  death,  in  prison  took  his  ease 

By  turning  ZEsop's  Fables  all  the  day 

Into  some  homely  verses.    In  this  way, 

I  too,  a  lesser  man  than  he,  in  pain 

And,  as  it  were,  in  prison,  try  again 

His  remedy  for  sorrow  (for  of  late 

I  lost  forevermore  my  friend  and  mate, 

And  need  a  little  smiling).    So  you  see 

Wise  .ffisop  set  to  homely  rhymes  by  me. 

And  I'll  be  glad  if  in  this  exercise, 

Begun  for  my  own  easement,  your  young  eyes 

Find  something  for  instruction  and  surprise. 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS. 
Part  I.  Fables  Adapted  from  -ZEsop. 

PAGE 

The  Gnat  and  the  Bull  3 

The  Fox  and  the  Crow   3 

The  Manslayer   4 

The  Frog  and  the  Fox  4 

The  Wasp  and  the  Snake 5 

The  Monkey  and  the  Dolphin  '. 6 

The  Swallow  and  the  Court  of  Justice 6 

The  Mountain  in  Labor  7 

The  Lion  and  the  Mouse  7 

The  Ass  in  the  Lion's  Skin 8 

The  Kid  and  the  Wolf 8 

The  Hares  and  the  Frogs  9 

The  Travelers  and  the  Plane  Tree  9 

The  Serpent  and  the  Eagle  10 

The  Bat  and  the  Weasels   11 

The  Frogs  who  Desired  a  King   11 

The  Hare  and  the  Tortoise   12 

The  Old  Man  and  Death   13 

The  Dog  and  his  Image 13 

The  One-Eyed  Doe   14 

The  Ass  and  the  Image  of  the  God 15 

The  Peacock  and  the  Crane   16 

The  Frogs  and  the  Sun  16 

The  Ass  and  the  Grasshoppers - 17 

The  Milk-Maid  and  her  Pail   17 

vii 


AND   HYSSOP 

PAGE 

The  Lion  and  the  Dolphin 18 

The  Town  Mouse  and  the  Country  Mouse 18 

The  Ass  and  his  Shadow 19 

The  Fox  and  the  Grapes  20 

The  Fatal  Nuptials   20 

The  Porcupine  and  the  Snakes 21 

The  Crab  and  the  Fox 21 

The  Kites  and  the  Horse 21 

The  Hen  and  the  Golden  Eggs   22 

The  Oak  and  the  Reeds  22 

The  Dove  and  the  Crow 23 

The  Dogs  and  the  Hide , 23 

The  Geese  and  the  Cranes   23 

The   Lamp    24 

The  Mule   24 

The  Crow  and  the  Pitcher   25 

The  Mice  in  Council 25 

The  Bee  and  Zeus 26 

The  Gods  and  Momus   27 

The  Mouse,  the  Frog,  and  the  Hawk 28 

The  Fox  and  the  Crane   29 

The  Astronomer 30 

The  Old  Woman  and  the  Water-Jar 31 

The  Fishermen   31 

The  Hunter  and  the  Woodman 32 

The  Cocks  and  the  Eagle   32 

The  Flea  and  the  Ox   33 

The  Viper  and  the  File  34 

The  Fox  and  the  Mask   34 

The  Wolf  and  his  Shadow   35 

The  Dog  in  the  Manger   35 

The  Thirsty  Pigeon    36 

The  Seaside  Travelers   36 

The  Two  Frogs   37 

The  Three  Tradesmen   38 

The  Heifer  and  the  Ox   39 

The  Wild  Boar  and  the  Fox 39 

viii 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Man  and  the  Satyr   40 

The  Bear  and  the  Fox   41 

The  Tunny  and  the  Dolphin 41 

The  Kid  and  the  Wolf  42 

The  Boar  and  the  Ass 42 

The  Two   Monkeys    43 

The   Aethiop    44 

The  Mice  and  the  Weasels   44 

The  Eagle  and  the  Kite    45 

The  Wolf  and  the  Crane    45 

The  Belly  and  the  Members  46 

The  Monkey  and  the  Camel   47 

The  Gnat  and  the  Lion   47 

The  Wolf  and  the  Lamb   48 

The  Thief  and  the  Innkeeper 49 

The   She-Goats    50 

The  Man  and  his  Sweethearts  50 

The   Sire  and   Sons    51 

The  Husbandman  and  his  Sons   52 

The  Grasshopper  and  the  Owl  52 

The  Dame  and  her  Maids    53 

Zeus  and  the  Camel   53 

The  Trees  and  the  Rustic  54 

The  Villager  and  the   Snake    55 

The  Mouse  and  the  Bull   55 

The  Sick  Kite  56 

Cupid  and  Death   56 

The  Eagle  and  the  Arrow   57 

The  Tail-less  Fox   58 

The  Ass  and  his  Driver  58 

The  Ants  and  the  Grasshopper   59 

The  Cock  and  the  Jewel   59 

The  Charcoal-Burner  and  the  Fuller   60 

The  Boy  Hunting  Locusts   60 

The  Mole  and  his  Mother 61 

Hercules  and  the  Wagoner    61 

The  Fisher  Piping   62 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

PAGE 

The  Traveler  and  his  Dog  62 

The  Swallow  and  the  Crow   63 

The  Cowherd  and  the  Bull-Calf   63 

The  Fawn  and  his  Mother   64 

The  Farmer  and  the  Stork   65 

The  Kingdom  of  the  Lion   65 

The  Pomegranate,  Apple-Tree  and  Bramble   66 

The  Ass,  the  Fox,  and  the  Lion   67 

The  Flies  and  the  Honey-Pot   67 

The  Man  and  the  Lion 68 

The  Tortoise  and  the  Eagle   68 

The  Farmer  and  the  Cranes   69 

The  Oxen  and  the  Axle-Trees  70 

The   Sick  Lion    70 

The  Raven  and  the  Swan   71 

The    Lioness    71 

The  Bear  and  the  Travelers   72 

The   Boasting  Traveler    72 

The  Goat  and  the  Goatherd   73 

The  Lion  in  Love   73 

The  Boy  and  the  Filberts 74 

The  Laborer  and  the  Snake   75 

The   Miser    75 

The  Ass  and  the  Mule   76 

The  Wolf  in  Sheep's  Clothing  77 

The  Porker,  the  Sheep,  and  the  Goat 77 

The  Fox  and  the  Goat  78 

The  Ass  and  the  Lap-Dog 79 

The  Shepherd-Boy  and  the  Wolf   80 

The  Lion,  the  Mouse,  and  the  Fox   81 

The  Snapping  Dog 81 

The  Oxen  and  the  Butchers  82 

The  Horse  and  the  Groom  83 

The   Boys  and  the  Frogs   83 

The  Salt-Pedlar  and  the  Ass 84 

Elegiacs  on  the  Wolves  and  the  Sheep  84 

The  Sick  Stag  85 


TABLE  OF  CONTENTS 

PAGE 

The  Jackdaw   .. 86 

The  Vine  and  the  Goat   88 

The  Ox  and  the   Frog   88 

The   Philosopher  Cautioned    89 

The  Fly  and  the  Bald  Man   90 

The  Cat  and  Aphrodite   92 

The  North  Wind  and  the  Sun 93 

The  Stag  at  the  Pool   94 

The  Miller,  his  Son,  and  their  Ass   95 

The  Swan  and  the  Goose   97 

The  Eagle,  the  Cat,  and  the  Wild  Sow 98 

The  Fox  and  the  Hedgehog   99 

The  Widow  and  the  Sheep   100 

The  Dolphins,  the  Whales,  and  the  Sprat 100 

The  Two   Pots    101 

The  Crab  and  its  Mother 102 

The  Olive  and  the  Fig-Tree    103 

The  Fox  and  the  Lion   103 

The  Cat  and  the  Birds    104 

The  Wolf  and  the  Shepherds  106 

The  Hen  and  the  Viper's  Eggs   106 

The  Puppy  and  the  Oyster    107 

The   Fox   and   the   Bramble    107 

The  Fisher  and  the  Little  Fish   108 

The  Wasp,  the  Partridge,  and  the  Farmer 109 

The  Ass  and  the  Horse    110 

The  Boy  and  the  Nettles   110 

The  Partridge  and  the  Fowler   Ill 

The  Bald  Knight   Ill 

The  Rose  and  the  Amaranth 112 

The  Mother  and  the  Wolf   113 

The  Fowler  and  the  Ring-Dove  114 

The  Oaks  and  Jupiter   115 

The  Bull,  the  Lioness,  and  the  Wild-Boar  Hunter  .  .  115 

The  Fox  and  the  Monkey   116 

The  Lion  and  the  Four  Bulls 116 

The  Ass  and  the  Thistle   .  .117 


AND   HYSSOP 

PAGE 

Hermes  and  the  Sculptor   118 

The  Lark  and  the  Farmer    119 

Part  II.  Original  Fables. 

The  Bear  and  the  Owl  123 

The  Bald  Man  and  the  Bee 123 

The  Lion,  the  Lioness,  and  Her  Kinsfolk 124 

The  Nightingale  and  the  Owl   125 

The  Crows  and  the  Ear  of  Corn 125 

The  Man  and  the  Hen  and  the  Ostrich  Egg 126 

The  Two  Dogs  and  the  Peaceful  Man 127 

The  Dog  and  the  Kettle  128 

The  Man  and  the  Squirrels 129 

The  Toad   130 

The    Parrot    131 

The  Corpuscle  and  the  Phagocyte  and  the  Strepto 
coccus    132 

The  Geese  of  Athabasca   133 

The  Duck  and  the  Nightingale   137 

The  Poodle  and  the  Pendulum 138 

The  Shingle   139 

The  Flug  and  the  Lion   143 

The    Ephemeris    145 

The  Ass  and  the  Sick  Lion 146 

The  Nightingale,  the   Prairie  Dogs,  the   Owls,   and 

the  Snakes    147 

The  Cow  and  the  Ostrich  148 

The  Lion  in  Pain    149 

The  Stag  and  his  Friends   149 

La  belle  dame  sans  merci   151 

The  Pigeon  and  the  Sparrow 151 

The   Sine  and  the   Tangent    152 

The  Cat,  the  Raven,  and  the  Public   153 

Epilogue        155 


xii 


PART  I. 
FABLES   ADAPTED   FROM   1ESOP. 

Mankind  will  still  remember  .ffisop, 

Though  mountains  melt  and  oceans  freeze  up. 


EXPLANATORY  NOTE. 

A  consideration  of  the  three  following  facts,  to  wit, 

1.  that  the  hyssop  was  a  plant  furnishing  a  twig  used 
in  ancient  purificatory  rites, 

2.  that  a  small  flexible  twig  is  a  switch,  and 

3.  that  a  switch  (especially  of  birch  or  young  maple) 
is  still  used  for  purificatory  rites, 

will  lead  the  reader  to  perceive  a  fourth  fact,  to  wit, 

4.  that  "Hyssop"  in  our  title  deftly  adumbrates  the 
purificatory  effect  this  work  is  to  produce  on  the 
moral  nature  of  mankind. 

Compare:     "Bells    and    Pomegranates,"    "Sesame    and 
Lilies," 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  &SOP 


THE  GNAT  AND  THE  BULL. 

Upon  a  Bull's  horn  once  there  sat 

A  consequential  little  Gnat. 

And,  as  he  was  about  to  fly, 

He  buzzed  unto  the  Bull,  "Goodbye, 

May  I  go  now?"    "You  tiny  Hum," 

Said  Bull,  "I  didn't  know  you'd  come." 

Moral. 

Some  people  in  their  lives  and  labors 

Seem  larger  to  themselves  than  to  their  neighbors. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  CROW. 

A  seely  Crow  sate  perched  upon  a  tree, 

A  bit  of  stolen  flesh  within  her  beak. 

Up  strolled  the  Fox  as  hungry  as  could  be, 

And  sate  thereunder  and  began  to  speak: 

"How  beautiful  thou  art,  thy  back  how  sleek, 

Thy  poise  how  graceful.     If  thy  voice  and  words 

Were  only  equal,  thou  wert  queen  of  birds." 

The  seely  Crow,  most  anxious  to  refute 
This  slight  reflection  on  her  vocal  flaw, 
Tilted  her  neck,  and,  standing  on  one  foot, 
Opened  her  mouth  and  gave  a  glorious  "caw." 
The  flesh  fell  down,  as  Mr.  Fox  foresaw: 


&SOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

Moral. 

"Miss  Crow,  albeit  your  voice  is  lacking,  it 
Is  still  a  little  better  than  your  wit." 

THE    MANSLAYER. 

A  Man  of  Egypt  once  upon  a  time 

Committed  murder — rightly  deemed  a  crime — 

And,  being  chased  in  a  stupendous  hurry 

By  all  the  dead  man's  kin  throughout  the  territory, 

He  hastened  first  to  Nile's  deserted  shore. 

Here  on  the  sands  he  heard  a  Lion  roar, 

And  in  new  terror  clambered  up  a  tree. 

Here  in  the  branches,  hissing  frightfully, 

A  coiling  Serpent  clung.     With  chattering  teeth 

He  jumped  into  the  river  underneath. 

HERE,  basking  with  a  twinkle  and  a  smile, 

Floated  a  just  and  hungry  Crocodile, 

Who  ate  him,  head  and  heel,  with  eager  slaughter. 

Moral. 

Nature  herself  to  bad  folks  gives  no  quarter, 
Whether  they  take  to  Earth  or  Air  or  Water. 

THE  FROG  AND  THE  FOX. 

A  Frog  leapt  grandly  from  a  lake  and  sat 

Upon  a  hummock  on  a  little  mat 

Of  oozy  moss  and  made  to  every  beast 

Of  field  and  forest,  lying  west  and  east, 

His  proclamation:  "I'm  a  great  physician; 

I'll  cure  all  ills,  whatever  your  condition." 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  &SOP 

And  this  he  uttered  in  a  voice  so  grand, 

In  words  so  big  you  scarce  could  understand, 

That  all  the  beasts  admired  his  brainy  head. 

At  last  the  Fox  in  indignation  said: 

"O  Frog,  how  can  you  have  the  impudence 

Thus  to  beguile  the  world  of  all  its  sense? 

For  how  can  you  with  those  thin  lantern  jaws, 

Those  loose  bow-legs  and  slimy  little  paws, 

That  meagre  face  and  that  blotched  skin  impure, 

Set  up  in  hopes  the  rest  of  us  to  cure 

Of  our  infirmities,  you  boggled  elf." 

Moral. 
The  wise  Fox  says:  "Physician,  heal  thyself." 

THE  WASP  AND  THE  SNAKE. 

The  Serpent  slept  upon  his  coiled  tail; 

The  supple  Wasp,  as  slender  as  a  nail, 

Seated  himself  upon  the  Serpent's  head, 

And  undertook  for  fun  to  sting  him  dead. 

The  Serpent,  writhing  in  exceeding  pain, 

Saw  coming  up  a  heavy-laden  wain, 

And  placed  his  head  within  the  wagon  rut, 

And  made  his  peace  with  all  the  Gods,  and  shut 

His  blood-shot  eyes.     "My  enemy,"  he  saith, 

"And  I  shall  go  together  down  to  death." 

Moral. 

Children,  now  show  your  casuistic  skill: 
Did  Serpent  Wasp  or  Wasp  the  Serpent  kill? 

5 


JBSOP  AND  HYSSOP. 


THE  MONKEY  AND  THE  DOLPHIN. 

A  merchant,  going  on  a  lengthy  trip, 
Took  for  his  own  amusement  on  the  ship 
A  Monkey.    Sailing  off  the  Grecian  coast, 
The  merchant,  Monkey,  crew,  and  ship  were  tossed 
Amid  a  violent  tempest  down  the  main. 
A  Dolphin,  seeing  in  the  waves  and  rain 
The  Monkey  swim  and  thinking  him  a  man 
(As  all  good  dolphins  aid  whene'er  they  can 
Our  genus  homo),  rescued  from  the  brine 
And  bore  him  shoreward  squatted  on  his  spine. 
And  when  the  Dolphin  came  in  sight  of  land 
Not  far  from  Athens,  he  did  then  demand 
Of  his  base  burden,  if  he  were  of  breed 
Athenian,  and  the  Monkey  said,  "Indeed, 
And  from  a  noble  family — come  and  see  us." 
The  Dolphin  asked  him  if  he  knew  Piraeus 
(That  harbor  famous  since  the  world  began). 
The  Monkey,  thinking  that  he  meant  a  man, 
Replied,  "Indeed?  we're  bound  by  family  ties." 
The  Dolphin,  angry  at  such  monstrous  lies, 
Drowned  the  pretender  hard  by  Salamis. 

Moral. 
Be  what  you  are  and  shun  an  end  like  this. 

THE  SWALLOW  AND  THE  COURT  OF  JUSTICE. 

A  Swallow  builds  her  nest  within  the  wall 
Of  Athens'  Court  of  Justice,  famous  hall, 

6 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

And  hatches  seven  young.     Two  Serpents  crawl 
From  out  their  hole  and  quickly  eat  them  all. 

Moral. 
Let's  have  our  Judges  subject  to  recall. 

THE  MOUNTAIN  IN  LABOR. 

A  Mountain  was  in  great  distress  and  loud 
She  roared  and  rumbled,  till  there  rushed  a  crowd 
Of  peasants,  kings,  and  princes,  looking  at  her 
And  wondering  what  of  all  things  was  the  matter, 
When  mid  her  pangs  there  issued  from  her  side 
A  Mouse — who  gave  one  little  squeak  and  died. 

Moral. 

The  moral  here  is  learned  and  occult — 
The  bigger  fuss,  the  smaller  the  result. 

THE  LION  AND  THE  MOUSE. 

A  Lion,  dreaming  in  his  pride  of  place, 
Was  waked  by  Mouse  who  ran  across  his  face. 
Rising  in  wrath  he  caught  and  was  about 
To  claw  and  kill,  when  little  Mouse  cried  out: 
"O  spare  my  life  and  I'll  repay  you  well." 

The  Lion  laughed  and  loosed  him 

It  befell 

A  little  later  that  some  hunters  bound 
This  king  of  beasts  with  ropes  upon  the  ground; 
When  Mouse,  who  knew  him  by  his  roar,  in  glee 
Came  up  and  gnawed  the  ropes  and  set  him  free. 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP. 

Moral. 
Scorn  no  man's  friendship,  howso  small  he  be. 

THE  ASS  IN  THE  LION'S  SKIN. 

An  Ass  put  on  a  Lion's  skin  and  went 
About  the  forest  with  much  merriment, 
Scaring  the  foolish  beasts  by  brooks  and  rocks, 
Till  at  the  last  he  tried  to  scare  the  Fox. 
But  Reynard,  hearing  from  beneath  the  mane 
That  raucous  voice  so  petulant  and  vain, 
Remarked,  "O  Ass,  I  too  would  run  away, 
But  that  I  know  your  old  familiar  bray." 

Moral. 
That's  just  the  way  with  asses,  just  the  way. 

THE  KID  AND   THE  WOLF. 

Standing  aloft  on  the  Roof  of  a  shed,  a  Kid  was 

reviling, 
Out  of  the  reach  of  disaster,  a  Wolf  in  the  fields 

underneath  him. 
"Sirrah,"  responded  the  Wolf  looking  up,  "I  hear 

thee,  but  mind  thee 
Never  a  bit— for  it  isn't  thyself  but  the  Roof  that 

is  talking." 

Moral. 

Often  enough  'tis  the  Place  that  gives    us    our 
bumptious  behavior. 

8 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 


THE  HARES  AND   THE  FROGS. 

The  Hares,  oppressed  with  sense  of  their  timidity, 
And  wearied  by  alarms,  with  much  avidity 
At  last  determined  to  compose  their  troubles 
By  leaping  headlong  down  amid  the  bubbles 
Of  a  deep  lake.    But  as  they  neared  the  bogs, 
From  off  the  bank  there  jumped  a  thousand  Frogs, 
All  helter-skelter  in  a  fright  tremendous. 
Then  cried  a  Hare,  "What  reason  we  should  end  us, 
When  here  are  other  creatures  still  more  fearful?" 

Moral. 
Behold  your  neighbor's  case  and  you'll  be  cheerful. 


THE  TRAVELERS  AND  THE  PLANE  TREE. 

Two  Travelers,  worn  by  heat  of  June, 
Lay  down  upon  their  backs  at  noon 
Beneath  the  branches  of  a  Plane. 
And  as  its  shade  revived  again 
Their  sweltering  heads  and  aching  knees, 
One  said  to  other:  "Of  all  trees 
The  Plane's  most  useless,  for  it  bears 
No  fruit,  as  apples,  peaches,  pears; 
And  from  its  pithy  wood  you  scarce 
Could  make  a  tent-pole  or  a  stool." 
The  Plane  replied:  "Ungrateful  fool, 
Had  I  not  kept  from  you  the  sun, 
Both  you  and  he  had  been  undone." 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP. 


Moral. 

Mankind  will  ever  be  despising 

Its  greatest  blessings — 'tis  surprising, 


THE  SERPENT  AND  THE  EAGLE. 

A  Serpent  and  an  Eagle  on  the  hill 
Fought  one  the  other  with  intent  to  kill. 
The  Serpent  had  the  bird  around  the  neck, 
Who  thus  could  neither  claw  with  foot,  nor  peck 
With  gasping  beak,  and  would  have  shortly  died, 
Shorn  of  his  soaring  strength  and  lofty  pride, 
Had  not  a  countryman  come  up  and  spied 
And  loosed  the  gleaming  coil  from  throat  and  feet, 
And  set  the  Eagle  free.    The  Serpent  beat 
With  fangs  in  fury  on  the  drinking  horn 
(Which  the  good  countryman  had  always  worn 
Strapped  to  his  belt),  and  let  the  poison  fly 
That  he  might  venge  himself  upon  the  sly. 
But  when  the  rustic  was  about  to  sip, 
Ignorant  of  danger  with  a  careless  lip, 
The  Eagle  struck  his  hand  with  wing  and  bore 
The  horn  within  his  talons  down  the  shore. 

Moral. 

When  strength  and  skill  with  gratitude  combine, 
The  end,  dear  child,  is  something  very  fine. 

10 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 


THE  BAT  AND  THE  WEASELS. 

A  Bat  who  fell  upon  the  ground  was  caught 
By  Mr.  Weasel.     Bat  his  life  besought; 
But  Weasel  said,  "Not  so, — for  on  my  word 
I'm  the  sworn  enemy  of  every  bird." 
The  Bat  assured  him  that  no  bird  was  he, 
But  just  a  mouse — so  Weasel  let  him  be. 
Then  shortly  after  fell  the  Bat  once  more 
And  other  Weasel  caught  him.     "I  implore, 
O  do  not  eat  me."    But  this  Weasel  cries, 
"I  have  one  vast  antipathy  for  mice." 
The  Bat  assured  him  that  no  mouse  was  he, 
But  just  a  Bat — so  Weasel  let  him  be. 

Moral. 
One  must  be  shifty  in  extremity. 


THE  FROGS  WHO  DESIRED  A  KING. 

The  Frogs,  lamenting  that  they  had  no  king, 
Sent  their  ambassadors  to  mighty  Zeus, 
Beseeching.    The  Olympian  God,  who  marked 
Their  green  simplicity,  in  jest  cast  down 
A  ponderous  log  splashing  into  the  lake. 
The  Frogs  in  terror  hid  their  heads  afar 
Deep  in  the  shadowy  waters  mid  the  roots 
Of  sallows  and  of  flags.     But  when  once  more 
The  billows  were  composed  and  that  great  log 
Lay  motionless,  they  did  despise  their  fears, 

11 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP. 

And  swam  about,  or  sat  thereon  asquat, 

Until  they  came  to  feel  the  indignant  blush 

At  such  a  lumpish  sovereign,  and  sent 

A  second  embassy  to  mighty  Zeus, 

The  Olympian  God  appointed  them  an  Eel, 

For  potentate.     But  when  they  saw  how  sleek, 

How  fat,  how  empty  of  all  policy, 

His  Eelship  was,  they  were  aggrieved  again 

And  sent  again  an  embassy  to  Zeus: 

The  Olympian,  ruffled  from  the  Olympian  calm 

By  foolish  plaint  reiterated,  sent 

In  wrath  the  Heron  of  the  stalking  thighs 

And  long  swift  bill.    And  day  by  fatal  day 

This  new  king,  like  the  King  of  Terrors,  preyed 

Upon  the  congregation  of  the  Frogs, 

Until  the  croaking  in  that  ancient  lake 

Did  cease  forever,  both  at  rising  sun 

And  when  the  first  star  lies  above  the  hill. 

Moral. 

O  Mortals,  O  unhappy  humankind, 
Complain  not  overmuch  unto  the  Gods. 


THE  HARE  AND  THE  TORTOISE. 

One  day  a  Hare  unto  a  Tortoise  said: 
"Laborious  back,  short  feet  and  empty  head! 
You  are  the  slowest  crawler  on  the  earth." 
The  Tortoise  blinked  and  answered  him  in  mirth: 
"Though  you  be  swift  as  wind  and  one  who  mocks, 
I'll  beat  you,  sir."  "Agreed."  They  called  the  Fox 

12 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

To  choose  the  course  and  fix  the  goal.    The  day 
Approached.    The  racers  started  on  their  way 
Together.    Tortoise  never  stopped,  but  stepped 
With  even  pace,  though  slow.    The  Hare  he  slept 
Midway  amid  the  clover,  trusting  ever 
His  native  swiftness  more  than  all  endeavor, 
And  woke  at  last  to  find  the  Tortoise  there 
Beyond  the  goal. 

Moral. 
Now  child,  don't  be  a  Hare. 


THE  OLD  MAN  AND  DEATH. 

An  aged  Man,  employed  in  cutting  wood 
And  carrying  faggots  for  a  livelihood 
To  Corinth's  market,  being  out  of  breath 
And  worn,  sat  down  and  called  aloud  on  Death. 
Death  hastened  at  his  summons  down  the  road : 
"Why  callest  me?"    "That,  lifting  up  my  load, 
Thou  may'st  replace  it  on  my  shoulders." 

Moral. 

I've 

The  same  propensity  to  stay  alive. 


THE  DOG  AND  HIS  IMAGE, 

A  Dog,  who  clenched  between  his  teeth  a  bone, 
Was  crossing,  as  it  chanced,  a  bridge  alone, 

13 


&SOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

Intent  upon  a  thicket  where  he  might 

Unseen  indulge  his  canine  appetite: 

When  looking  down  beside  the  plank  he  spied 

His  Image  in  the  water  magnified. 

"Another  Dog,  and  a  more  tempting  bone; 

In  size,"  he  thinks,  "at  least  two  times  my  own.' 

He  makes  a  savage  spring  with  opened  jaws 

And  loses  both  the  edibles,  because: 

Moral. 
One  must  acquaint  oneself  with  Nature's  laws. 


THE  ONE-EYED  DOE. 

I  sing  a  little  tale  of  woe 
About  a  gentle  little  Doe 

That  comes  into  my  mind. 
It  had  the  habit  of  surprise, 
Besides  four  legs,  two  ears,  two  eyes, 

Of  which  the  one  was  blind. 

So  it  would  always  grazing  be 
Close  to  the  cliff  beside  the  sea 

Its  good  eye  landward  cast. 
For  thus  it  mused:  "My  danger  lurks 
In  hounds'  and  hunters'  evil  works 

And  not  in  Ocean's  vast." 

But  sorrow,  sorrow!     Boatmen  came 
By  chance,  and,  taking  certain  aim, 

14 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 

Did  shoot  her  from  the  sea; 
And  as  she  died,  she  sobbed  and  said, 
"O  I  was  fearfully  misled, 

And  now  I  cease  to  be." 

Moral. 

The  moral  here  is  literary, 

And  yet  I  think  it  ought  to  carry: 

Had  Wordsworth  sung  this  song, 
It  would  have  been  less  energetic, 
But  surely  ten  times  more  pathetic, 

And  fifty  times  as  long. 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  IMAGE  OF  THE  GOD. 

An  Ass  once  carried,  tied  upon  his  back, 
A  God's  gold  Image  on  a  crimson  sack, 
Meant  for  the  Temple  out  beyond  the  walls. 
From  street  to  street  the  population  falls 
Adoring  on  its  hands  and  knees.     The  Ass, 
Flattered  indeed  that  this  had  come  to  pass, 
Bristled  with  pride  and  gave  himself  such  airs 
He   stopped   stone-still.     The   driver   whips   and 

swears 

Until  the  silly  creature  brays  and  begs 
And  draws  his  ropy  tail  between  his  legs 
And  drops  his  ears,  and  moves  along  again. 

Moral. 

It  is  stupidity  that  makes  us  vain. 

15 


1ESOP  AND  HYSSOP. 


THE  PEACOCK  AND  THE  CRANE. 

A  Peacock,  spreading  his  resplendent  tail, 
Mocked  at  the  ashen  plumage  of  the  Crane: 
"Your  lanky  wings  how  pitiful  and  pale, 
Beside  the  gold  and  purple  in  the  grain 
Of  these  my  regal  robes."    "But  I  regain 
The  heights  of  heaven  soaring  to  the  sun, 
While  still  your  Lordship  struts  about  the  plain 
Beside  the  dunghill,"  said  the  wiser  one. 

Moral. 

The  fabulist  would  teach  you  by  these  words: 
Fine  feathers,  children,  do  not  make  fine  birds. 


THE  FROGS  AND  THE  SUN. 

Once  when  the  Sun  declared  he'd  take  a  wife, 
The  little  Frogs  were  frightened  for  their  life, 
And  raised  their  voices  clamoring  to  the  sky. 
Zeus,  bothered  by  their  croaking,  grumbled,  "Why 
This  new  complaint  that  makes  my  God's  ears 

tingle?" 

One  ansv/ered:  "Sire,  the  Sun,  now  being  single, 
Still  parches  up  our  marshes  and  compels 
Us  miserably  to  die  by  arid  wells 
And  withered  water-cresses  on  dry  stones, 

Where  come  the  cats  and  feed  upon  our  bones 

What,  then,  will  be  our  future  state  when  once 
He  shall  beget  a  family  of  Suns?" 

16 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  /ESOP 

Moral. 

Whether  begetting  offspring  is  a  blessing 
Depends,  T.  R.,  on  whom  you  are  addressing. 

THE  ASS  AND  THE  GRASSHOPPERS. 

An  Ass,  who  hears  some  Grasshoppers 
At  song  and  chirp,  his  joy  avers, 
Demanding  what  the  food  may  be 
That  gives  their  voice  such  melody. 
They  tell  him  "dew."     The  ambitious  Ass 
Eats  dew. . . . 

Moral. 
and  dies  of  hunger  in  the  grass. 

THE   MILK-MAID   AND    HER   PAIL. 

A  farmer's  daughter,  carrying  from  the  field 
A  Pail  of  foaming  milk  upon  her  head: 
"The  money  that  this  morning's  milk  will  yield 
Will  buy  a  hundred  eggs  or  more,"  she  said; 
"The  eggs  will  hatch  me  chickens,  white  and  red, 
Full  ninety-five,  allowing  for  mischances — 
I'll  sell  them  when  the  poultry  price  advances. 

"And  in  a  year  I'll  buy  a  gorgeous  gown 
And  go  to  all  the  feasts  and  junketings, 
And  set  the  fellows  crazy  through  the  town, 
Proposing  to  me — round  my  train  and  strings 
And  jaunty  hat.    But  I  will  spread  my  wings 

17 


1ESOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

And  give — like  this — my  head  a  toss  and  flirt." 
She  ceased — 

Moral. 
and  saw  her  milk  amid  the  dirt. 

THE  LION  AND  THE  DOLPHIN. 

A  Lion,  roaming  by  the  wild  seashore, 

Beheld  a  Dolphin  lift  his  silver  head 

Above  the  shining  waves.     The  Lion  said: 

"Let's  form  a  treaty  of  alliance,  for, 

As  I  am  king  of  beasts  forevermore 

Upon  the  land,  so  thou  of  all  that's  bred 

In  ocean's  deeps."     The  Dolphin  bellowed 

A  brave  assent  unto  the  Lion's  roar. 

But  when  the  Lion,  fighting  with  a  bull, 

Shrieked  for  the  watchful  Dolphin  somewhat  later, 

Because  the  king  of  fishes  couldn't  pull 

With  fins  o'er  land,  this  Lion  called  him  traitor. 

Moral. 

The  moral  is  aesthetic:  I  am  able 
To  make  a  sonnet  out  of  .ffisop's  fable. 

THE  TOWN  MOUSE  AND  THE  COUNTRY  MOUSE. 

The  Country  Mouse  invited  his  new  friend, 
The  Town  Mouse,  to  come  up  the  road  and  spend 
A  day  with  him.     And  as  they  roamed  the  bare 
Plough-lands  and  nibbled  at  the  random  fare 
Of  wheat  stalks  and  the  roots  by  hedge-rows  dug, 

18 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  &SOP 

The  Town  Mouse  chattered  with  a  perky  shrug 
Of  his  fore-shoulder  blades:  "I'm  quite  askance; 
The  life  you  live  here  is  the  life  of  ants. 
Come  back  with  me,  my  friend,  and  you  shall  find 
Dainties  and  luxuries  of  every  kind." 

The  Country  Mouse  returned  with  him  to  town ; 
Whereat  the  Town  Mouse  in  his  pride  took  down 
Raisins,  and  figs,  and  honey,  bread  and  pease, 
Barley  and  beans,  and  bits  of  yellow  cheese. 
The  Country  Mouse,  delighted  at  such  cheer, 
Began  lamenting  his  own  fate  so  drear 
And  meagre — when  the  Butler  with  a  hamper 
Bowled   through  the  room,   and  both   away   did 

scamper, 

Squeaking  into  a  narrow  dusty  crack. 
And  then  no  sooner  had  they  both  crawled  back 
To  feast  once  more,  when  frightened  by  the  Cook, 
Who  came  to  get  some  sugar,  they  betook 
Their  little  selves  to  refuge  once  again. 
At  last  the  Country  Mouse  remarked:  "How  vain, 
My  friend,  your  luxuries,  while  here  we  shake 
And  have  the  tempting  smell  but  may  not  take. 
Give   me   my   plough-lands   and   my   roots — poor 

cheer, 

Moral. 
But  one  can  eat,  and  eat  it  without  fear." 

THE  ASS  AND  HIS  SHADOW. 

A  Traveler,  who'd  hired  him  an  Ass, 

Sat  down  beneath  its  shadow  in  the  grass 

19 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP. 

To  cool  himself.    The  Owner,  who  desired 
To  do  the  same,  declared  the  man  had  hired 
The  Ass,  but  not  the  Shadow.    Whilst  they  fought 
The  Ass  ran  off,  nor  was  thereafter  caught. 

Moral. 

Those  people  who  will  make  so  much  ado 
About  the  Shadow  lose  the  Substance  too. 


THE   FOX   AND   THE   GRAPES. 

A  famished  Fox  did  chance  to  spy 
Some  ripe  grape  clusters  hanging  high. 
She  leapt,  she  pawed  the  tree,  she  screeched, 
But  not  a  single  grape  she  reached. 
She  turned  away  and  said,  "I  guess 
They're  after  all  a  sour  mess." 

Moral. 

When  things  go  wrong,  O  Fox  or  Man, 
Philosophize  the  best  you  can. 


THE  FATAL  NUPTIALS 

A  Lion,  grateful  to  a  Mouse  for  aid, 
"Whate'er  thou  wilt,  I'll  do  for  thee,"  he  said. 
The  ambitious  Mouse,  "Then  make  thy  daughter 

mine 

In  marriage."    "Yes,  the  lady  shall  be  thine." 
But  on  the  nuptial  day  the  giddy  bride, 
The  royal  virgin,  by  her  father's  side 

20 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Approaching,  set  her  paw  upon  her  spouse 
Unwittingly — and  so  no  more  of  Mouse. 

Moral. 
Ambition  ruins  many  a  humble  house. 

THE  PORCUPINE  AND  THE  SNAKES. 

A  Porcupine,  who  wished  a  sheltered  spot, 
Prevailed  on  Snakes  to  let  him  share  their  grot. 
The  Snakes,  ere  long  by  bristling  quills  annoyed, 
Asked  Porcupine  to  leave.     "But  I've  enjoyed 
My  housing  here  and  think  I'd  like  to  stay; 
If  you're  unhappy,  go  yourselves  away." 

Moral. 

It's  well,  kind  people,  to  reflect  and  see 
On  whom  we  lavish  hospitality. 

THE  CRAB  AND  THE  FOX. 

A  Crab,  forsaking  in  disgust  the  sands 
Along  the  shore,  went  up  the  meadow  lands 
For  feeding  grounds.     A  famished  Fox  who  saw 
Pounced  down  and  ate  him  head  and  tail  and  claw. 

Moral. 
Contentment  with  our  lot's  a  wholesome  law. 

THE  KITES  AND   THE  HORSE. 

The  Kites  of  old  time  had  the  gifts  of  song, 
Even  such  as  to  their  cousin  swans  belong; 

21 


1ESOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

But,  once  enchanted  by  the  Horse's  notes, 
In  imitation  they  so  strained  their  throats 
That  the  vain  effort  to  achieve  a  neigh 
Took  all  their  native  talent  quite  away. 

Moral. 

The  search  for  benefits  imagined,  ends 
In  loss  of  present  good,  my  little  friends. 

THE  HEN  AND  THE  GOLDEN  EGGS. 

A  cottager  and  wife  possessed  a  Hen 
Who  laid  each  day  a  golden  Egg  again; 
So  each  one  thought  that  in  its  fair  inside 
A  lump  of  gold  there  surely  must  abide. 
And  thus  they  killed  it  in  the  hope  of  gain, 
And  found  no  more  than  entrails,  quite  as  plain 
As  fill  the  insides  of  all  mortal  chicks. 
The  foolish  pair  were  in  a  silly  fix. 

Moral 
And  thus  'tis  ever  with  the  Get-rich-quicks. 

THE  OAK  AND  THE  REEDS. 

A  mighty  Oak,  uprooted  by  the  blast, 
Among  the  Reeds  along  the  stream  was  cast, 
And  thus  it  spake:  "O  Reeds,  so  weak  and  light, 
How  comes   it  that  the  winds   don't  crush  you 

quite?" 

The  Reeds  replied:  "You  struggle  and  contend 
And  are  destroyed — but  we  have  learned  to  bend." 

22 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Moral. 
By  stooping  you  may  conquer  in  the  end. 

THE  DOVE  AND  THE  CROW. 

A  Dove  in  cage  was  boasting  to  the  Crow 
How  large  the  family  she  hatched — "Not  so; 
The  more  you  have  of  offspring,  the  more  woe, 
Since  all  within  this  prison  must  abide." 

Moral. 
This  seems  to  argue  for  race-suicide. 

THE  DOGS  AND  THE  HIDE. 

Some  famished  Dogs  one  morning  spied 
Within  a  stream  a  bullock's  hide 
Laid  there  to  steep.    Not  being  versed 
In  diving  and  in  fetching,  first 
To  drink  the  river  up  they  tried, 
And  shortly  one  by  one  they  burst 
And  one  by  one  they  died  and  died. 

Moral 

However  much  you  need  an  object, 
Consider  with  some  sense  your  project. 

THE  GEESE  AND  THE  CRANES. 

The  Geese  and  Cranes  together  fed  one  day 

In  the  same  meadow;  when  there  walked  that  way 

23 


1ESOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

A  fowler  with  a  snare.  The  Cranes  thereat 
Flew  off,  as  being  light  of  wing  and  swift; 
The  heavy  Geese  were  captured. 

Moral. 

And  the  drift 
Of  this  old  fable  is:  don't  be  too  fat. 


THE  LAMP. 

A  Lamp  that  soaked  a  deal  of  oil  and  flared 
Beyond  the  wont  of  tapers  thereabout 
"I'm  more  refulgent  than  the  sun"  declared- 
When  came  a  puff  of  wind  and  blew  it  out. 
Its  owner  chided,  lighting  it  again: 

Moral 

"Learn  thou  to  shine  in  silence,  as  is  fit; 
A  boasting  beacon  is  a  thing  in  vain — 
Nor  sun  nor  stars  require  to  be  relit." 


THE  MULE. 

A  Mule,  quite  frolicsome  from  too  much  corn 

And  all  too  little  work,  cavorted  round 

And  boasted  to  himself:  "O  I  was  born 

Of  some  high-mettled  sire,  a  swift  and  sound 

Racer  whose  virtues  I  indeed  inherit — 

For  I'm  his  own  child  both  in  speed  and  spirit. 

But  on  the  next  day,  driven  hard  and  far, 
And  feeling  very  weary  in  his  thighs, 

24 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 

With  drooping  ears  he  cursed  his  evil  star: 
"This  sorry  business  opens  both  my  eyes — 
My  father  after  all  was  but  an  Ass." 

Moral 
It's  well  to  know  our  pedigree  and  class. 

THE  CROW  AND  THE  PITCHER. 

A  thirsty  Crow  approached  a  water-jar, 

And,  squinting  with  some  fervor  down  the  neck, 

Discovered  that  the  water  lay  too  far 

For  him  to  reach:  however  much  he'd  peck 

And  twist  his  pudgy  head,  the  dusky  hollow 

Would  yield  his  black  throat  not  a  single  swallow. 

At  last,  with  patient  walking  to  and  fro, 
He  gathered  up  a  pile  of  stones  hard  by, 
And  dropped  them  in  the  pitcher  down  below, 
Until  the  water  rose  to  where  'twas  high 
Enough  for  easy  suction  through  his  beak. 

Moral. 
I'm  sure  this  crow  was  something  of  a  freak. 

THE  MICE  IN   COUNCIL. 

The  Mice  in  eager  council  sat 
Discussing  gravely  this  and  that 
How  best  to  tell,  in  time  to  scat 

To  their  retreats, 
The  coming  of  the  subtle  cat 

Who  springs  and  eats. 

25 


JESOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

And  they  concluded  they  could  tell 

Most  expeditiously  and  well 

By  hanging  round  her  neck  a  bell, 

Whose  tinkle-tinkle 
Would  warn  them  to  be  off  pell-mell — 

A  clever  wrinkle. . . . 

Save  that  in  all  the  council  there 

No  Mouse  was  found  the  deed  to  dare. 

And  so  their  schemes  dissolved  in  air. 

Moral. 

The  wide  world  teems 
With  silly  councils  everywhere 
And  silly  schemes. 


THE  BEE  AND  ZEUS. 

The  Queen-bee  soared  from  out  the  dews 
Of  Mount  Hymettus.    Her  ascent 
Was  toward  Olympus  to  present 
Some  golden  honey  unto  Zeus. 

Pleased  with  the  sweets,  the  Olympian  said, 
"Whate'er  thou  wilt,  I'll  give  and  bring." 
The  Queen-bee,  "Give  me,  pray,  a  sting 
That  I  may  strike  the  mortal  dead 

Who  pilfers  in  my  hives."    And  Zeus, 
Though  grieved  (because  he  loved  the  race 
That  worshiped  him  with  upturned  face), 
Dared  not  the  bold  request  refuse. 

26 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 

But  so  contrived  that,  when  the  bee 
Thereafter  should  employ  the  sting, 
The  dart  within  the  wound  would  cling 
And  cause  its  owner's  death. 

Moral. 

We  see 

That  evil  wishes  do  not  boost 

Their  base  devisers  very  high, 

But  sooner,  later,  back  they  fly, 

And  come,  like  chickens,  home  to  roost. 


THE  GODS  AND  MOMUS. 

According  to  an  ancient  piece  of  news, 
The  first  of  all  mankind  was  made  by  Zeus, 
The  first  of  bulls  by  green  Poseidon,  and 
The  first  of  houses  by  Athene's  hand. 
Now  when  the  three  devices  were  complete, 
A  quarrel  rose  regarding  which  was  best, 
And  all  agreed  to  come  before  the  seat 
Of  Momus,  mighty  judge,  for  him  to  test 
The  work  of  each.     He,  envious  of  their  skill, 
Finds  fault  with  all.    He  scorns 
The  bull,  as  fashioned  very  ill, 
Because  Poseidon  had  not  set  the  horns 
Below  the  eyes,  that  thus  the  creature  might 
See  better  where  to  butt  and  put  to  flight. 
And  Zeus  he  showed  had  blundered  in  the  man, 
In  that  he  had  not  placed  the  heart  outside, 
So  all  good  people  can, 

27 


JESOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

Without  deception,  know  his  evil  pride. 

And  wise  Athene's  artifice  was  such 

As  could  not  be  condemned  too  much: 

For  every  house  should  on  four  wheels  be  set, 

That,  if  a  neighborhood  became  disgusting, 

The  household  might  remove,  and  get 

A  better  site  with  little  readjusting. 

The  Gods,  indignant  at  such  vile  rascalities, 
And  legal  technicalities, 
Cried  out:  "Shall  Momus 
Remain  to  overcome  us — 
Of  justice  thus  to  cheat  and  scrimp  us! — " 
And  pitched  him  forth  from  out  Olympus. 

Moral. 

All  modern  thinkers,  save  our  doubting  Thomases, 
Are  well  aware  how  many,  many  Momuses 
Sit  handing  down  decisions  base  and  bold — 
Let's  imitate  the  sturdy  Gods  of  old. 


THE  MOUSE,  THE  FROG,  AND  THE  HAWK. 

A  Mouse,  whose  home  had  always  been 
Among  the  stubble  and  the  green, 
Conceived  a  friendship  for  a  Frog, 
Who  lived  within  the  pool  and  bog. 
The  sleek  Amphibian  one  day 
Enticed  the  foolish  Mouse  away, 
And  with  a  string  of  water-cress, 
His  evil  self  he  did  address 
To  binding  fast  the  Mouse's  thigh 

28 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Unto  his  own  upon  the  sly. 

Then  on  the  bank,  a  son  of  sin, 

He  croaked  and  dove  jocosely  in, 

And  down  among  the  rushy  roots 

Methinks  he  squints  and  squats  and  scoots. 

The  hapless  Mouse,  as  being  tied 

And  never  used  to  water,  died; 

And  on  the  surface  bobbed  and  floated, 

With  legs  upturned  and  belly  bloated. 

A  Hawk  observed  the  morsel  there, 

And  swooped  and  bore  it  off  in  air. 

The  frenzied  Frog,  as  being  tied 

Unto  the  Mouse,  he  also  died, 

And  added  something  to  the  feast 

When  Hawk  had  finished  with  the  beast. 

Moral. 

Tie  no  one  to  you  with  a  string, 
And  never  do  a  wicked  thing. 

THE  FOX  AND  THE  CRANE. 

A  Fox,  with  reprobate  design, 
Invited  home  a  Crane  to  dine, 
And  getting  out  a  dish  of  stone, 
The  shallowest  he  chanced  to  own, 
Poured  into  it  a  mess  of  soup. 
The  long-necked  Crane  began  to  stoop; 
But  every  mouthful  from  his  bill 
Would  bubble,  sputter  off,  and  spill; 
At  which  the  Fox,  who  knew  a  jest, 
Laughed  with  complacency  and  zest. 

29 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP. 

The  Crane,  who  wandered  hungry  home, 
Thereafter  asked  the  Fox  to  come, 
And  set  a  flagon  on  the  ground 
With  narrow  neck  and  bowl  profound ; 
And  easily  inserting  then 
His  head,  he  drank  and  drank  again. 
The  Fox,  unable  to  compete, 
Admitted  the  retort  was  neat. 

Moral. 

You  may  be  smart,  but  when  you're  through, 
Others  may  be  as  smart  as  you. 

THE  ASTRONOMER. 

An  absent-minded  old  Astronomer 

Was  walking  in  the  fields  one  summer  night, 

Gazing  upon  ten  thousand  stars  that  were, 

In  all  their  silent  beauty,  gleaming  bright; 

And,  full  of  exaltation  and  delight, 

With  concentrated  eyes  and  upturned  chin, 

He  stumbled  on  a  well  and  tumbled  in. 

And  there  he  stood  in  water  to  his  ears, 
Grasping  in  vain  against  the  mossy  side 
And  roaring  madly  in  his  pain  and  fears 
For  rope  and  bucket;  when  a  neighbor  hied, 
And,  with  more  truth  than  charity,  replied: 

Moral. 

"Of  what  avail  to  spy  the  heavens  out, 
When  you  can't  see  what's  here  on  earth  about?" 


30 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 


THE  OLD  WOMAN  AND  THE  WATER-JAR. 

A  poor  old  Lady  found  an  empty  Jar, 

Which  lately  had  been  filled  with  prime  old  wine. 

She  placed  it  to  her  nose,  now  near,  now  far, 

Now  tilting  this  way  and  now  that:  "Divine 

And  most  delectable  it  must  have  been, 

Since  such  a  lovely  perfume  lurks  within." 

Moral. 

Sweet  is  the  memory  of  a  good  deed  done, 
And  long  'twill  live  when  he  who  did  it's  gone. 

THE  FISHERMEN. 

Some  Fishermen  let  down  their  nets  and  trawled ; 
And   shortly  toward   the   land   they  rowed    and 

hawled, 

The  weight  so  heavy  that  they  praised  their  luck 
And  sang  for  glee :  on  shore,  they  saw  the  truck — 
A  tangled  mass  of  weeds  and  sand  and  stones. 
The  Fishers  filled  the  ambient  air  with  groans, 
Until  the  white-haired  eldest  said:  "My  mates, 
Let  us  no  longer  thus  bewail  our  fates; 
Sorrow  was  ever  sister-twin  of  Mirth; 
It  is  no  marvel  that  we  sons  of  earth, 
After  the  joy  a  moment  since  we  had, 
Should  now  have  something  for  to  make  us  sad." 

Moral. 
'Tis  true  'tis  certain,  and  certainly  too  bad. 

31 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP. 


THE  HUNTER  AND  THE  WOODMAN. 

A  Hunter,  used  to  shooting  craven  sparrows, 
Marched  round  the  forest  with  his  bow  and  arrows, 
And  seeing  there  a  Woodman  at  an  oak 
With  sturdy  ax,  strolled  up  to  him  and  spoke: 
"O  honest  Woodman,  can  you  tell  me  where 
To  find  the  lion's  footprints  or  his  lair?" 
The  Woodman:  "Yonder  on  a  kid  he  feasts — 
Forthwith  I'll  bring  you  to  the  King  of  Beasts 
Himself."     The  Hunter,  turning  pale,  replied, 
With  chattering  teeth  and  palpitating  side: 
"O  never  mind,  sir;  what  I  seek  and  lack 
Is  not  the  lion,  but  the  lion's  track." 

Moral. 

Some  men  are  boldest  in  an  enterprise 
Before  they're  conscious  where  the  danger  lies. 

THE  COCKS  AND  THE  EAGLE. 

Two  Cocks  were  fighting  long  and  hard 
For  mastery  of  the  farmer's  yard, 
Till  one  at  last  with  bloody  crest 
Skulked  vanquished  off  to  hide  and  rest 
Behind  a  bucket  by  the  fence. 
The  victor  with  more  pride  than  sense 
Flew  upward,  lighting  on  a  wall 
And  stretched  himself,  as  lord  of  all, 
With  flapping  wings  and  crowing  neck. 
An  Eagle  saw  the  living  speck 

32 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 

From  out  his  travels  in  the  blue, 
And  on  this  Cock-a-doodle-doo 
Did  pounce,  and  in  his  talons  lift 
To  his  high  nest  along  the  clift. 
The  beaten  Cock  he  tottered  out 
And  reigned  thereafter  round  about. 

Moral. 
Pride  goes  before  a  fall,  no  doubt. 

THE  FLEA  AND  THE  OX. 

A  Flea  remarked  unto  an  Ox, 

Who  trudged  uphill  with  load  of  rocks: 

"What  ails  you,  sir,  that,  huge  and  strong, 

You  thus  endure  to  suffer  wrong, 

And  slave  from  day  to  day  for  men, 

And  sleep  at  night  in  noisome  pen, 

Whilst  I,  though  smaller  than  a  pea, 

A  miserable  little  flea, 

Feed  on  their  flesh  and  suck  their  blood, 

And  get  a  jolly  livelihood?" 

The  Ox  replied:  "The  care  I  get, 

The  food  I  cat's  the  nicest  yet; 

In  gratitude  I  bear  these  boulders — 

Besides,  men  pat  me  on  the  shoulders." 

"Ah  woe  indeed,"  exclaimed  the  Flea; 

"This  very  patting  don't  agree, 

When  men  employ  it,  sir,  on  me — 

It  breaks  my  wings,  it  gives  me  shocks, 

And  sometime  it  may  slay  me,  Ox." 

33 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP. 


Moral. 

It  all  depends  on  who  is  who, 
And  on  the  person's  point  of  view. 

THE  VIPER  AND  THE  FILE. 

A  Viper  wriggled  o'er 

A  blacksmith's  floor, 

And  sought  among  the  tools  to  light 

On  something  for  his  ravenous  appetite. 

He  set  his  fangs  to  work  upon  a  File; 

But  with  an  iron  smile 

Remarked  the  savage  Tool: 

"O  Viper,  you're  a  fool, 

If  you  expect  to  gather  aught  of  one 

Whose  business  always  is  to  take 

And  never  once  to  make 

Return  to  any  creature  underneath  the  sun." 

Moral. 

You  can't  expect  to  get  a  meal, 
Poor  beggar,  from  a  soul  of  steel. 

THE  FOX  AND  THE  MASK. 

A  curious  Fox  went  rummaging  about  an  actor's 
attic, 

And  saw,  among  the  properties  prepared  for  use 
dramatic, 

A  painted  mask;  whereat  he  said,  the  pleasing  ob 
ject  pawing, 

34 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

"O  what  a  beauteous  head  it  is!" — then  broke  in 

loud  guffawing, 
When,  turning  it  upon  its  face,  he  noticed  what 

was  lacking. 

Moral. 

A  house  where  heads  are  void  of  brains  is  scarcely 
worth  ransacking. 

THE  WOLF  AND  HIS  SHADOW. 

A  Wolf,  who  roamed  the  mountain  side, 
Beheld  his  Shadow  stretching  wide, 
Considerably  magnified, 
Because  'twas  nearing  eventide. 
Then  said  the  Wolf,  the  while  he  eyed 
That  shadow  with  increasing  pride: 
"Why  thus  should  I  in  fear  abide 
Of  lion's  roar  or  lion's  stride — 
Could  I  not  eat  him  hair  and  hide?" 
Meanwhile  the  hungry  Lion  spied 
This  most  complacent  Wolf  and  tried 

The  matter  out the  Wolf  he  died, 

And  dying,  mournfully  he  cried: 

Moral. 
"Woe  worth  the  fool  self-satisfied." 

THE  DOG  IN  THE  MANGER. 

A  savage  Dog  sat  growling  in  a  manger, 
With  curling  lip  presaging  bites  and  danger. 

35 


MSOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

The  hungry  Oxen  at  a  distance  gazing, 
Remarked  with  sorrow:  "This  is  quite  amazing- 
He  will  not  eat  the  hay,  and  yet  his  plan 
Is  to  prevent  those  eating  it  who  can." 

Moral. 
Such  meanness  is  unworthy  dog  or  man. 


THE   THIRSTY    PIGEON. 

A  thirsty  Pigeon  saw  a  cup 
Upon  a  tavern  sign-board  painted; 
She  whirred  along  to  drink  it  up — 
And  banged  her  silly  pate  and  fainted. 

The  tavern-keeper  brought  her  in, 
As  something  good  to  bake  and  season- 
Mora/. 

O  child,  before  your  woes  begin, 
Control  your  appetites  by  reason. 


THE    SEASIDE   TRAVELERS. 

Two  Travelers,  gazing  down  the  bay, 

Observe  an  object  far  away: 

"A  stately  ship  that's  sailing  home 

With  treasure,  spite  of  wind  and  foam." 

But  as  it  nearer  comes,  they  see 

A  stately  ship  it  cannot  be. 

36 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

"A  bounding  skiff  some  fisher  lad 

Is  steering,  stocked  with  hawl  of  shad." 

But  as  it  nearer  comes,  they  see 

A  bounding  skiff  it  cannot  be. 

"A  turtle  of  prodigious  weight — 

We'll  have  a  soup  at  any  rate." 

But  as  it  nearer  comes,  they  see 

A  turtle,  too,  it  cannot  be. 

The  wild  waves  toss  it  up  the  beach — 

A  paltry  stick;  yet  it  can  teach: 

Moral  I. 

That  in  our  hopes  we're  often  lax 
About  our  scrutiny  of  facts; 

Moral  II. 

That  often  our  anticipations 
Confuse  the  truth  of  life's  relations; 

Moral  III. 

That  men  with  such  a  visual  twist 
Should  seek  at  once  an  oculist. 

THE  TWO  FROGS. 

Two  Frogs,  a  Cart,  a  Pond,  a  Ditch 
Have  given  me  the  scribbler's  itch. 
And  I  will  write  of  land  and  water, 
Of  sage  advice  and  sudden  slaughter: 
The  Frog  who  in  the  ditch  abode 
Was  warned  to  quit  the  dangerous  road 
By  Frog  whose  home  was  in  the  pond 
Some  paces  in  the  reeds  beyond, 

37 


JESOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

And  still  refusing  (saying  that 

He  liked  his  present  habitat), 

He  found  his  belly,  legs  and  head 

Beneath  a  cart  so  widely  spread 

That  what  was  left  of  him  was  dead. 

The  other  Frog,  though  smit  with  grief, 

Yet  found  at  length  some  slight  relief 

In  meditating  by  a  stone 

How  such  a  fate  was  not  his  own. 

Moral  I. 

Two  Frogs,  a  Cart,  a  Pond,  a  Puddle  I— 
This  life  is  such  an  awful  muddle. 

Moral  II. 

So,  Children,  learn  to  read  and  live 
By  parsing  this  my  narrative. 


THE  THREE  TRADESMEN. 

A  mighty  city  stood  besieged,  and  all 

Its  people  gathered  in  the  city  hall 

To  choose  the  proper  substance  for  a  wall. 

A  Mason  called  for  bricks;  a  Carpenter 
Stood  out  for  timber;  but  the  Tanner:  "Sir, 
Leather's  the  thing,  unless   I  greatly  err." 

Moral. 

The  zeal  of  men  to  serve  the  state  depends 
Confoundedly  upon  their  private  ends. 

38 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 


THE  HEIFER  AND  THE  OX. 

A  Heifer,  seeing  hard  at  work  an  Ox 
Chained  to  a  plow  and  getting  many  knocks, 
Jeered  as  he  frisked  about  the  fertile  loam. 
But  shortly  after  at  the  harvest-home 
The  owner  took  from  off  the  Ox  the  yoke, 
And  bound  the  Heifer  with  a  cord  and  spoke: 
"I  lead  thee  to  the  altar,  and  will  call 
The  priest  to  slay  thee  for  the  festival." 

Moral. 
Self-satisfaction  endeth  in  a  fall. 


THE  WILD  BOAR  AND  THE  FOX. 

A  wild  Boar  stood  beneath  a  tree 
And  sharpened  tusks  against  the  bark. 
A  passing  Fox,  who  failed  to  see 
The  aim  of  such  activity, 
Essayed  the  following  remark: 

"O  what  an  idiot  you  be — 

No  hound  nor  hunter  is  in  sight." 

To  which  the  Boar:  "Advisedly— 

For  it  would  never  do  for  me 

To  wait  and  fix  them  during  fight." 

Moral. 

This  fable  teaches  cogently 
"In  time  of  peace  prepare  for  war" — 

39 


&SOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

But,  child,  I  hope  you  don't  agree; 

For  'tis  a  precept  certainly 

All  Christian  people  should  abhor. 

THE  MAN  AND  THE  SATYR. 

A  Man  and  Satyr,  growing  fond, 

Arranged  between  themselves  a  bond; 

And  in  all  sorts  of  wind  and  weather 

Began  to  walk  and  eat  together. 

One  winter  morn  outside  the  house 

Man  tucked  his  hands  within  his  blouse; 

Then  drew  them  up  before  his  lips 

And  blew  upon  the  finger  tips. 

The  curious  Satyr  he  demands: 

"Why  this?"     The  Man:    "To  warm  my  hands." 

That  afternoon  indoors  they  sate 

At  table,  each  by  steaming  plate. 

The  Man,  attempting  a  few  sips, 

Raises  the  dish  unto  his  lips, 

And  blows  until  the  liquids  quaver 

In  little  ripples  'neath  his  slaver. 

The  uncouth  Satyr  with  a  whoop: 

"Why  this?"     The  Man:  "To  cool  my  soup." 

Whereat  the  Satyr  twitched  an  ear: 

"I  guess  I'd  better  disappear; 

I  can  no  longer  stay  with  thee — 

Moral. 

For  one  who  with  the  self-same  breath 
Blows  hot  and  cold  (the  Satyr  saith) 
Can  never  be  the  friend  for  me." 

40 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 


THE   BEAR   AND    THE    FOX. 

A  Bear  stood  up  with  neck  atwist: 

"Behold  I'm  a  philanthropist; 

Of  all  the  beasts  there's  none  who  can 

Prove  such  a  high  regard  for  man — 

I  won't  even  handle  his  dead  body." 

To   whom  the   Fox:    "That's   rather   shoddy- 

We'd  much  prefer  you'd  eat  and  ruin 

The  dead  and  not  the  living,  Bruin." 

Moral. 

This  fable  shows  by  its  inanity 
A  lapse  in  JEsop's  usual  sanity. 


THE  TUNNY  AND  THE  DOLPHIN. 

A  Tunny,  once  by  Dolphin  rude 
Around  and  round  the  bay  pursued, 
Was  flung  by  wind  and  wave  and  left 
To  gasp  upon  a  barren  cleft. 
With  glassy  eye  he  chanced  to  light 
On  Dolphin  in  the  self-same  plight. 
"I  die,"  he  moaned,  "and  yet  with  joy— 
For  you  die  with  me  too,  my  boy." 

Moral. 

Revenge  is  sweet,  aye  even  in  death — 
That's  what  the  heathen  Tunny  saith. 
Perhaps  'tis  true,  perhaps  'tis  funny, 

41 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP. 

And  still  'twas  wicked  of  the  Tunny. 
Though  pard'ning  the  untutored  fish, 
I'd  never  harbor  such  a  wish. 


THE  KID  AND  THE  WOLF. 

A  Kid,  who  had  wandered  away  from  the  lambs, 
Was  chased  by  a  Wolf,  who  desired  her  hams; 
And  turning,  she  said :  "Mister  Wolf,  in  a  minute 
You'll  open  your  mouth,  and  I  will  be  in  it; 
But  please,  ere  I  die,  will  you  pipe  me  a  tune 
To  which  I  may  dance  by  the  light  of  the  moon?" 
And  so  'twas  agreed.    But  the  beautiful  sounds 
Aroused  in  the  distance  the  shepherd  and  hounds. 
The  Wolf  as  he  scampered: 

Moral. 

"When  wisdom  is  riper, 
A  beast  who's  a  butcher  will  never  turn  piper." 


THE  BOAR  AND  THE  ASS. 

A  little  Ass  with  little  sense, 
But  plenty  of  impertinence, 
Remarked  with  impish  mockery 
And  ears  that  flapped  consumedly, 
Unto  the  Boar,  the  lord  of  Swine: 
"Your  humble  servant,  brother  mine." 
The  solemn  Boar,  as  somewhat  nettled, 
In  equanimity  unsettled, 

42 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

With  noble  snout  began  to  dip 

To  give  the  Ass's  flank  a  rip, 

But  stifling  passion,  satisfied 

Resentment,  as  he  thus  replied: 

"You  spavined  shank,  you  hide,  you  husk, 

I  will  not  foul  my  glorious  tusk 

By  making  such  a  creature  bleed, 

Though  'twere  an  easy  feat  indeed." 

Moral. 

True  dignity  will  never  bend 
With  its  inferiors  to  contend. 


THE  TWO  MONKEYS. 

The  monkey  has  two  young  at  birth,  they  say. 

The  partial  mother 
Is  wont  to  throw  the  one  of  them  away 

And  keep  the  other. 
But  once  it  chanced  a  Monkey  mama's  mite, 

Too  closely  pressed, 
In  an  excess  of  Simian  delight, 

To  hairy  breast, 
Was  done  to  death  for  lack  of  needful  air. 

The  sister-twin, 
Meantime  neglected,  sojourned  with  a  bear, 

Who'd  brought  her  in, 
And  with  small  tenderness,  but  honest  sense, 

Nursed  her  and  fed, 
Until  she  grew  to  wholesome  corpulence 

And  lustihead. 

43 


JESOP  AND  HYSSOP. 


Moral. 

Whatever  lesson  in  this  tale  you  find, 

Its  ancient  maker 
Was  certainly,  according  to  my  mind, 

A  nature-fakir. 


THE  AETHIOP. 

A  man,  who  bought  a  slave,  contended 

His  dusky  color  could  be  mended, 

As  due  to  diet  and  to  dirt. 

He  stripped  the  negro,  shoe  and  shirt, 

And  dosed  him  well  with  chalk  within, 

And  rubbed  and  drubbed  and  scrubbed  his  skin. 

And  sank  exhausted,  void  of  hope. 

Moral. 

Howe'er  you  try  with  douse  or  dope, 
You  cannot  change  the  Aethiop. 


THE  MICE  AND  THE  WEASELS. 

In  olden  times  the  Mice  and  Weasels  waged 

A  desperate  warfare,  shedding  blood  on  blood 

O'er  field  and  bank,  and  still  the  Weasels  won. 

The  armies  of  the  miserable  Mice 

Chose  out  new  captains,  famous  for  descent 

And  craft  and  counsel,  who  should  marshal  all, 

Battalioned  for  victory.     And  now 

The  Herald  Mouse  went  challenging  the  Host, 

44 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Whilst  the  proud  captains  bound  their  heads  with 

straw — 

Insignia  of  office,  shining  marks 
Of  hope  and  inspiration  for  the  troops. 
The  battle  scarce  begun,  the  Mice  again 
Were  whelmed  in  rout,  and  sped  into  their  holes. 
The  captains,  owing  to  their  bristling  crests, 
Could  enter  not,  and,  captive  to  the  foe, 
Squeaked  down  the  Weasels'  throats  to  sombre 

death. 

Moral. 

The  trappings  of  our  military  lords 
Are  mad  pomposities  that  end  in  doom. 

THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  KITE. 

An  Eagle  bolted  down  a  fish  so  big  it  burst  her 

crop; 
And  round  her  dying  on  the  shore,  a  Kite  began 

to  hop: 
"No  bird  of  air,  should  seek  its  fare  from  out  the 

alien  sea." 

Moral. 

O  mind  your  proper  business  and  achieve  longev 
ity. 

THE  WOLF  AND  THE  CRANE. 

A  Wolf,  with  a  bone  in  his  throat,  for  a  sum 
Once  hired  a  Crane  in  a  hurry  to  come. 

45 


JESOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

The  Wolf  on  his  haunches  sat   frightened  and 

still; 

The  Crane  then  inserted  his  surgical  bill, 
And,  extracting  the  sliver,  demanded  his  pay. 
The  Wolf  with  a  grin:  "O  Crane,  go  away — 
It's  surely  enough  that  I  left  you  alone, 
When  you  stood  with  your  head  inside  of  my  own." 

Moral 

In  serving  the  wicked,  child,  hope  for  no  gains, 
And  be  glad  if  you  come  out  alive  for  your  pains. 


THE  BELLY  AND  THE  MEMBERS. 

The  Members  of  the  Body  once  rebelled  against 

the  Belly: 
"What  use  for  us  to  labor  thus  to  feed  you  jam 

and  jelly, 
And  grind  you  corn  both  night  and  morn,  and  broil 

you  little  chickens? — 
No  more  we'll  work  for  such  a  shirk  who  treats  us 

like  the  dickens." 
And  soon  the  Members,  having  done  exactly  as 

they  stated, 

Began  to  wither  one  by  one,  and,  much  debilitated, 
The  hands,  the  feet,  the  eyes,  too  late  repented  of 

their  folly. 

Moral. 

If  men  will  strike,  they're  very  like  to  do  the  same, 
by  golly. 

46 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  &SOP 

THE  MONKEY  AND  THE  CAMEL. 

The  beasts  of  the  forest  invited  the  beasts 
Of  the  hills  and  the  plains  to  partake  of  a  feast; 
And  after  the  dinner  a  Monkey  advances, 
And  round  in  the  center  he  dances  and  dances, 
Retiring  with  grace.     The  applause  was  so  loud 
An  envious  Camel  stepped  forward  and  bowed: 
Careering,  careening,  cavorting,  he  jumps, 
Now  kicking  his  legs,  now  arching  his  humps. 
The  beasts  of  the  forest,  the  hills,  and  the  plains 
They  drub  him  and  club  him  away  for  his  pains. 

Moral. 

If  only  our  public  were  half  as  severe 
With  camels  and  humbugs  of  art  around  here! 

THE  GNAT  AND   THE  LION. 

A  Gnat  unto  a  Lion  spoke: 

"Your  boasted  strength  is  but  a  joke — 

You  bite  with  teeth,  you  scratch  with  nails 

Like  any  woman  when  she  rails." 

And  sounding  then  his  horn,  he  goes 

Directly  to  the  Lion's  nose, 

Where  all  Zoologists  declare 

Is  neither  bristle,  down,  nor  hair — 

A  tender  spot.    And  here  he  stings. 

The  frenzied  Lion  madly  flings 

His  paws  about  his  face,  and  bleeds 

From  his  own  misdirected  deeds. 

47 


&SOP  AND  HYSSOP. 

The  Gnat  he  buzzes  forth  a  paean 
And  soars  into  the  empyrean. 
But  shortly  after,  being  tangled 
In  cobwebs,  he  was  mauled  and  mangled ; 
And  murmured :  "What  a  fate  is  my  own ! 
Here  I  who  put  to  flight  a  Lion 
Must  perish  by  a  wretched  Spider 
And  find  a  petty  grave  inside  her." 

Moral. 

The  greatest  danger  often  lies 
In  little  things  that  we  despise. 

THE  WOLF  AND  THE  LAMB. 

A  Wolf,  encountering  a  wildered  Lamb, 
Astray  and  helpless,  far  from  fold  and  dam, 
Declared:    "Sirrah,  last  year  you  baa-ed  at  me; 
For  this  I  think  I  will  be  eating  thee." 
"O  no  indeed,"  the  Lamb  began  to  mourn; 
"Last  year,  believe  me,  Wolf,  I  wasn't  born." 
"You  feed  in  pastures  that  belong  to  me; 
For  this,  then,  Lambkin,  I'll  be  eating  thee." 
"O  no  indeed,"  the  creature  cried;  "alas — 
For  up  to  now  I've  never  tasted  grass." 
"But  of  my  well  you  drink,  and  this  shall  be 
Sufficient  reason  for  my  eating  thee." 
"O  no  indeed,  I've  drunk  no  water  yet; 
My  mother's  milk  is  all  the  drink  I  get." 
Whereat  the  Wolf  he  seized  and  ate  and  said: 
"But  still  I  won't  go  supperless  to  bed." 

48 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 


Moral. 

The  tyrant  ever  finds  his  last  excuse, 
When  logic  fails  him,  in  some  private  use. 


THE  THIEF  AND  THE  INNKEEPER. 

A  Thief,  intent  his  trade  to  ply, 
Comes  up  before  a  hostelry, 
Where,  lounging  on  a  bench  outside 
Beneath  the  sign-board  swinging  wide, 
The  host,  removing  then  his  feet, 
Invites  the  man  to  take  a  seat. 
The  willing  Thief  begins  to  quote 
Amusing  tale  and  anecdote, 
Observing  with  expectant  eye 
The  Tavern-keeper's  scarlet  coat. 
And  then  he  seems  to  yawn  and  growl 
With  something  of  a  wolfish  howl. 
"Why  yawn  you  thus,  my  brother,  why?" 
"I'll  tell  you,"  says  the  Thief,  "but  first 
Please  hold  my  arms,  for  I  am  curst 
With  fits  of  yawning  now  and  then — 
A  judgment  on  some  ancient  crime, 
It  may  be,  sir — however,  when 
The  fit  is  on  a  second  time, 
I  turn  into  a  wolf,  a  beast 
That  snaps  around  and  bites  at  men." 
Whereat  the  Tavern-keeper  rising 
(Considering  the  case  surprising), 
Attempted  to  depart.     The  Thief, 

49 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 

As  if  in  terror,  begged  relief, 
With  hand  upon  the  scarlet  coat, 
And  yawned  and  howled  again  by  rote. 
The  Host  he  fled  and  left  behind 
The  garment,  as  the  Thief  designed, 
In  wild  credulity  and  fear. 

Moral. 
Don't  swallow  every  yarn  you  hear. 

THE  SHE-GOATS. 

The  She-goats  having  by  request  from  genial  Zeus 

obtained 
The  favor  of  a  sightly  beard,  the  He-goats  they 

complained. 
"O  let  them  keep  the  empty  badge,"  the  king  of 

gods  replied; 
"So  long  as  still  in  strength  and  skill  your  fame 

is  magnified." 

Moral. 

O  do  not  let  the  suffragette  disturb  your  peace 
and  pride. 

THE  MAN  AND  HIS  SWEETHEARTS. 

A  Man,  approaching  middle  life, 
Courted  together  for  his  wife 
A  younger  and  an  older  dame. 
The  latter,  being  filled  with  shame 
To  have  a  lover  at  her  ears 

50 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 

Her  junior  by  so  many  years, 
Plucked  one  by  one  his  black  hairs  out. 
The  former,  in  distress  about 
A  galant  verging  on  decay, 
Plucked  by  permission  all  the  gray. 
And  there  he  stood,  unhappy  soul, 
As  bald  as  any  upturned  bowl. 
The  Ladies  left  him  with  chagrin. 

Moral. 

When  with  complacence  you  begin 
To  please  all  men  or  maids  at  once, 
You'll  end  by  pleasing  none,  you  dunce. 

THE  SIRE  AND  SONS. 

A  Sire,  whose  Sons  were  most  litigious, 
With  tempers  sullen  and  prodigious, 
Now  having  failed  in  exhortation, 
Devised  this  simple  illustration: 
He  gives  to  each  of  all  the  six 
In  turn  a  bundle,  child,  of  sticks, 
And  bids  them  break  them  if  they  can. 
In  vain  they  try.    The  learned  Man 
Unties  the  bundle,  giving  then 
To  each  a  single  stick;  again 
They  try  and  snap  them  all  at  once. 
Whereat  he  speaks :  "You  see,  my  Sons, 

Moral. 

United,  ye  will  all  prevail; 
Divided,  ye  will  surely  fail." 

51 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 


THE  HUSBANDMAN  AND  HIS  SONS. 

A  Husbandman,  upon  the  point  of  death, 
Unto  his  Sons  around  the  sofa  saith: 
"My  vineyard  hides  a  treasure  bright  and  big." 
Whereat  the  Sons  with  mattocks  dig  and  dig. 
They  get  no  gold; 

Moral. 

but  when  the  fall  had  come — 
What  rich  red  clusters  at  the  harvest-home! 


THE  GRASSHOPPER  AND  THE  OWL. 

That  blinking  astronomic  fowl, 
The  knowing  mathematic  Owl 
That  feeds  by  night  and  sleeps  by  day, 
Was  much  disturbed  by  roundelay 
Of  Grasshopper.    "You  wretched  purp. 
And  will  you  never  cease  to  chirp?" 
The  more  he  scolded  and  entreated 
The  louder  was  the  song  repeated. 
"My  pretty  little  chatterer" 
(He  then  began  to  flatter  her), 
"Since  now  I  cannot  sleep,  because 
You  choose  to  sing  without  a  pause 
(A  song,  believe  me,  sweeter,  higher, 
Than  even  god  Apollo's  lyre), 
I'm  going  to  drink  some  nectar  that 
Athene  from  Olympus  vat 
Drew  off  not  long  ago  for  me — 

52 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

And  if  you  like,  come  here  and  be 
My  guest  awhile."    The  Grasshopper 
Had  never  yet  been  thirstier; 
And  so  with  merry  thanks  flew  up. 
But,  scarcely  perched  upon  the  cup, 
The  Owl  seized  her  with  a  will — 
And  dead  she  hung  across  his  bill. 

Moral. 
Thus  too  much  flattery  may  kill. 

THE   DAME   AND    HER    MAIDS. 
A  bustling  Dame  was  used  to  call 
Her  maids  for  work  in  kitchen,  hall, 
And  barnyard   every  morning  at 
The  crowing  of  her  rooster.     That 
Displeased  the  Wenches,  and  the  Cock 
They  slaughter  on  the  chopping-block, 
And  think  that  now  within  their  beds 
They'll  rest  in  peace  their  sleepy  heads. 
The  furious  Dame  compelled  them  soon 
To  rise  at  midnight  with  the  moon. 

Moral. 

A  rash  attempt  to  end  our  troubles 
Troubles  doubles,  troubles  doubles. 

ZEUS  AND  THE  CAMEL. 

The  Camel  went  to  Zeus  and  said : 
"The  bull  has  horns  upon  his  head, 

53 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 

The  tiger  claws  upon  his  foot, 

The  boar  a  tusk,  and  even  the  newt 

A  tongue  that  darts,  the  bee  a  sting — 

But,  Zeus,  I  haven't  anything, 

Except  my  miserable  humps 

On  which  my  Arab  driver  jumps — 

I  can't  attack,  defend  I  can't." 

Then  Zeus:  "I'm  not  disposed  to  grant 

My  gifts  to  such  extravagant 

Impertinence;  and  soon  the  shears 

Shall  crop,  you  silly  beast,  your  ears." 

Moral. 

Dissatisfaction  with  your  lot 
Diminishes  the  goods  you've  got. 

THE  TREES  AND  THE  RUSTIC. 

A  Rustic  Fellow  to  the  greenwood  went, 
And  looked  about  him.     "What  is  your  intent?" 
Inquired  the  Beech.    "A  stick  of  wood  that's  sound 
To  serve  as  handle  for  the  ax  I've  found." 
The  Trees  politely  grant  a  piece  of  ash; 
Which  having  fitted,  he  begins  to  thrash 
And  lay  about  him  stroke  by  villain  stroke; 
And  Beech  and  Ash  and  Hickory  and  Oak 
He  fells,  the  noblest  of  the  forest  there, 
And  leaves  a  wilderness  of  stump  and  weed. 

Moral. 

Of  all  concessions  unto  private  greed, 
Ye  Forests  and  ye  Waterways,  beware. 

54 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 


THE  VILLAGER  AND   THE  SNAKE. 

A  Villager  in  frosty  winter  found 
A  frozen  Snake  near  death  upon  the  ground 
Beneath  a  hedge.    He  picks  her  up  and  sets 
Upon  the  hearth.    The  genial  warmth  she  gets 
Soon  thaws  her  out;  and  now  with  flaming  eyes 
She  rears  her  head,  she  darts  her  tongue,  she  flies 
At  wife  and  children,  hissing  round  the  room. 
The  goodman  comes,  and  with  inverted  broom 
He  smites  her  back  and  sends  her  to  her  doom. 

Moral. 

Beware,  good  fellow,  for  the  family's  sake, 
What  sort  of  people  home  with  you  you  take. 


THE  MOUSE  AND  THE  BULL. 

A  Bull  was  bitten  by  a  Mouse;  in  fury, 

As  judge  and  executioner  and  jury, 

He  bellowed  after  her;  the  Mouse,  however, 

Reached  home  in  safety,  being  spry  and  clever. 

The  Bull  around  her  hole  amid  the  stubble 

Dug  madly  with  his  horns;  but  all   his  trouble 

Being  in  vain,  he  crouched  beside  and  slept. 

The  Mouse  peeped  out  and  furtively  she  crept 

Along  his  flank  and  bit  him  on  the  ear, 

Alert,  as  rose  the  Bull,  to  disappear 

And  murmur  tauntingly: 

55 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 


Moral. 


"Thus  mischief  springs, 
O  great  and  strong  one,  from  the  little  things." 


THE   SICK   KITE. 

A  Kite,  almost  at  point  of  death, 
Unto  his  grieving  mother  saith: 
"O  mourn  not — rather  pray  the  deities." 
"O  child  of  mine,  how  sad  for  me  it  is 
To  know  there's  not  in  field  or  city 
A  god  or  goddess  who'll  have  pity. 
For  is  there  one  you've  not  estranged — 
The  while  so  merrily  you  ranged — 
By  filching  from  the  altar,  even 
When  smoked  the  sacrifice  to  heaven?" 

Moral. 

Make  friends,  my  friend,  in  your  prosperity, 
If  in  your  woes  you  hope  for  charity. 


CUPID  AND  DEATH. 

The  paukie  lad  ane  simmer  day 
The  skellum  Cupid,  squattlin'  lay — 
Ramfeezled  wi'  his  jinkin'  play 

By  slap  and  heath — 
Aboon  a  cave  which  bogles  say 

Belangs  auld  Death. 

56 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  3ESOP 

His  bonnie  arrows  frae  the  quiver 
Hae  faun,  alake,  amang  the  ither — 
The  bluidy  darts  Death  hurls  foriver 

Frae  ivery  airt 
On  mortal's  craigie,  wame,  an'  liver, 

An'  doup  an'  heart. 

And  sae  at  last  it  maun  befa' 
When  Cupid  wakes  and  gaes  awa', 
He  gathers  up  some  darts  frae  a'; 

And  likewise  Death, 
When  back  he  hirples  to  his  ha', 

Takes  hafflins  baith. 

Moral. 

And  sae  it  is  we  see  the  auld 

Aft  smit  by  Luve  outowre  the  cauld, 

Poor  deils  in  thraws  ayont  the  fauld, 

In  vera  hell; 
And  aft  the  birkies  young  and  bauld 

By  Death  himsel'. 


THE  EAGLE  AND  THE  ARROW. 

A  fallen  Eagle,  pierced  along  the  heart, 
Saw  his  own  feathers  on  the  fatal  Dart. 

Moral. 

To  our  disasters  we  contribute  part. 
57 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 


THE  TAIL-LESS  FOX. 

A  Fox,  whose  tail  an  ugly  trap 
Had  sundered  from  his  rump  with  snap, 
Chagrined  and  horrified  at  seeing 
Himself  no  more  a  normal  being, 
And  ridiculed  by  all  the  pack, 
Determined  to  make  good  the  lack: 
"My  brother  Foxes,  you'll  prevail 
More  speedily  without  the  tail — 
A  needless  weight,  besides  in  essence 
A  base  and  hideous  excrescence." 
The  Foxes  wink  to  one  another: 
As  if  to  say: 

Moral. 

"Our  woeful  brother 
Would  get  some  comfort  could  he  see 
Us  as  unfortunate  as  he.'* 


THE  ASS  AND  HIS  DRIVER. 

An  Ass,  along  the  highway  goaded, 
Disconsolate  and  heavy-loaded, 
Wishing  he  had  ne'er  been  colted, 
With  sudden  desperation  bolted 
Off  unto  a  precipice's 
Brink,  whereunder  an  abyss  is — 
A  bottom  piled  with  jagged  stones, 
On  which  to  rest  for  aye  his  bones. 
The  eager  Owner  of  the  Pack-ass 

58 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Seized  the  tail  of  that  poor  Jackass, 
Who  gave  a  sudden  lurch,  however, 
And  rendered  vain  the  man's  endeavor. 
Releasing  expeditiously 
The  creature's  latter  end,  said  he: 

Moral. 

"Although  to  conquer  you  may  boast, 
Forsooth  you  conquer  to  your  cost." 

THE  ANTS  AND  THE  GRASSHOPPER. 

The  Ants  one  winter  day  were  drying  grain, 

Collected  in  the  summer  not  in  vain. 

A  famished  Grasshopper  desired  to  take, 

He  said,  a  little  for  his  stomach's  sake. 

The   Ants   inquired:     "Why   didst   thou   nothing 

store 

On  those  warm  days  in  bounteous  months  of  yore?" 
The  Grasshopper:  "I  had  no  leisure  then; 
I  sang,  and  having  sung,  I  sang  again.'* 

Moral. 

"Who  sings  all  summer,"  thus  an  old  Ant  said, 
"In  winter  dances  supperless  to  bed." 

THE  COCK  AND  THE  JEWEL. 

A  Cock,  who  for  himself  and  hens 
Was  scratching  down  along  the  fence, 
Unearthed  a  precious  stone ;  whereat 

59 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Philosophizing:  "Look  at  that— 
Now,  if  a  Man  had  found  it,  he 
Had  been  beside  himself  with  glee 
And  set  it  in  a  ring  of  gold, 
Or  to  some  wealthy  princess  sold. 
But  I  do  pass  it  by  with  scorn — 
I'd  rather  have  one  barley-corn." 

Moral. 

Thus  market  values  fall  or  rise 
From  what  we  spurn  or  what  we  prize; 
But  who  shall  undertake  to  query 
Why  tastes  to  such  degree  will  vary? 

THE  CHARCOAL-BURNER  AND  THE  FULLER. 

A  Charcoal-burner  to  his  friend 
The  Fuller:  "Live  with  me;  we'll  spend 
Less  money  and  be  better  neighbors 
And  have  companionship  in  labors." 
The  Fuller:  "Such  suggestions  frighten; 
For  whatsoever  I  should  whiten, 
You'd  blacken  horridly  and  spoil." 

Moral. 
Be  independent  in  your  toil. 

THE  BOY  HUNTING  LOCUSTS. 

A  Boy,  who'd  caught  a  goodly  lot 
Of  Locusts  for  his  mother's  pot, 
Espied,  half-hidden  from  the  sun, 

60 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Beneath  a  leaf  a  Scorpion; 
Whereon  his  eye  so  poorly  focussed, 
He  thought  it  was  another  Locust. 
But  as  he  reached,  the  grewsome  thing 
Wriggled  out  and  showed  its  sting: 
"My  boy,  had  you  but  touched  me,  you 
Had  lost  me  and  your  Locusts  too." 

Moral. 

Yet  don't,  when  danger  lurks,  expect 
To  be  thus  warned  of  your  neglect. 

THE  MOLE  AND  HIS  MOTHER. 

A  little  Mole  remarked:  "Ha,  ha, 

I'm  sure  that  I  can  see,  mamma." 

To  prove  to  him  his  lack  of  sense, 

His  Mother  set  before  his  head 

A  paltry  grain  of  frankincense: 

"What's   that?"  — "A   pebble   round   and   red."- 

"Not  only  blind,  my  son,  but  you 

Have  lost  your  power  to  smell  things  too." 

Moral. 

Conceit,  when  challenged,  often  shows 
Us  lacking  both  in  eyes  and  nose. 

HERCULES  AND  THE  WAGONER. 

A  Carter  drove  his  rumbling  wain 
Along  a  rough  and  rugged  lane, 
When  sank  the  wheels  deep  down  a  rut. 

61 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

He  oped  his  mouth,  his  eyes  he  shut, 
And  roared  aloft  for  Hercules 
To  come  and  lift  his  axle-trees. 
The  Giant  came,  but  thus  began: 

Moral. 

"Your  shoulder  to  the  wheel,  my  man ; 
Goad  on  your  bullocks;  cease  to  pray 
Till  you  have  tried  the  nearer  way." 

THE  FISHER  PIPING. 

A  Fisher  piped  out  o'er  the  sea: 
"Ye  Fishes,  dance  up  here  to  me." 
But  finding  that  his  flute  was  vain, 
He  cast  his  net  along  the  main; 
And  making  quite  a  haul,  observed 
How  every  Fish  was  much  unnerved, 
And  on  the  rock  bounced  here  and  there- 
Whereat  the  Man:  "Well,  I  declare; 
You  beasts  perverse,  you  wouldn't  dance 
The  while  I  piped  and  gave  the  chance; 
But  now  I've  ceased,  you  dance  indeed." 

Moral. 
Be  very  good  and  you'll  succeed. 

THE   TRAVELER  AND   HIS   DOG. 

A  Traveler,  about  to  jog, 

Saw  yawning  by  the  door  his  Dog; 

62 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

And  chided  sharply,  being  heady: 
"Come — everything  but  you  is  ready; 
'Tis  many  an  hour  after  dawn — 
Too  late  for  dogs  or  men  to  yawn — 
You  lazy  Creature,  come  instanter." 
The  Dog  began  to  leap  and  canter, 
With  tail  awagging  fast  and  faster: 
"I  was  so  weary  waiting,  Master." 

Moral. 

Man,  being  not  by  birth  acute, 
His  fault  to  others  doth  impute. 

THE  SWALLOW  AND  THE  CROW. 

The  Swallow  with  the  Crow  disputed 
About  their  plumage.    Crow  refuted: 
"In  spring  you  have  some  pretty  feathers, 
But  mine  protect  me  in  all  weathers." 

Moral. 

The  value  of  a  thing  consists 

In  doing  that  for  which  the  thing  exists. 

THE   COWHERD   AND   THE   BULL-CALF. 

A  Cowherd  tending  on  the  wold, 
Lost  a  Bull-calf  from  the  fold, 
And  swore  he'd  catch  the  thief  and  give 
Him  cause  at  once  to  cease  to  live; 
And  being  too  a  pious  man, 

63 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

He  vowed  a  kid  to  Hermes,  Pan, 

And  all  the  Forest  Deities. 

Soon  after,  up  a  hill  he  ran, 

And  at  the  foot  beyond  he  sees 

A  Lion  feeding  on  the  Calf. 

He  roars  with  a  sardonic  laugh: 

"And  now  indeed  I  vow  a  Bull — 

I  need  a  whole  Olympus-ful 

Of  gods  and  goddesses  for  help — 

This  beast  will  slay  me  like  a  whelp." 

Moral. 
At  first  we  brag  and  then  we  yelp. 


THE  FAWN  AND  HIS  MOTHER. 

A  Fawn  unto  his  Mother  said: 

"You're  bigger,  swifter,  sturdier  bred 

Than  any  Dog  and  have  a  head 

Supplied  with  horns.     Then,  why  this  fright, 

When  once  the  hounds  appear?" — "You're  right; 

But  at  a  single  bark  my  feet 

Begin  themselves  their  own  retreat. 

'Tis  most  lamentable  and  silly; 

But  fly  I  have  to,  willy-nilly." 

Moral. 

No  arguments  will  ever  put 
Courage  in  a  coward's  foot. 

64 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 


THE  FARMER  AND  THE  STORK. 

A  Farmer  laid  some  nets  around 

Upon  his  newly  seeded  ground 

And  trapped  a  flock  of  thievish  Cranes — 

Among  them  too  a  Stork  whose  shin 

Was  fractured,  tangled  in  the  gin: 

"O  save  me,  Master;  note  my  pains; 

I  err  not  as  those  others  err — 

I  have  a  goodly  character — 

I  am  my  father's  stay  and  mother's — 

My  plumes  are  different  from  the  others — 

A  Stork  I  am  and  not  a  Crane." 

But  to  this  incoherent  strain 

The  Farmer  said:  "It  may  be  so— 

But  I  know  all  I  need  to  know: 

Moral. 

I  found  you  by  these  robbers,  who 
Are  soon  to  die — and  with  them  you." 

THE  KINGDOM  OF  THE  LION. 

A  Lion  was  king  of  the  Beasts — no  tyrannical 
Monarch  his  folk  to  imprison  and  manacle, 
Not  given  to  wrath,  but  so  gentle  and  sensible 
That  indeed  in  a  Lion  'twas  incomprehensible. 
He  published  a  summons  for  every  Animal; 
And  when  they  arrive,  and  he's  able  to  scan  'em  all, 
He  proclaimeth  a  league  and  a  peace  so  benig- 
nantly 

65 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

That  even  the  Wolf  stops  growling  indignantly 
And  no  longer  pursueth  the  lambkin  malignantly, 
While  Panthers  by  Kids,  and  Tigers  by  Antelopes 
Lie  together  as  quiet  as  squashes  by  cantelopes. 
Then  the  Hare:  "How  I've  longed  for  this  grand 

opportunity, 
When  the  Weak  by  the  Strong  take  their  place 

with  impunity." 

Moral. 

Yet  Reformers  who  argue  for  such  a  society 
Are  lacking  absurdly  in  sense  for  variety, 
And  favor  indeed  with  the  zeal  of  stupidity 
The  petulent  offspring  of  sloth  and  timidity. 

THE   POMEGRANATE,   APPLE-TREE   AND 
BRAMBLE. 

The  Apple-tree  and  Pomegranate 
Gave  each  the  other  tit  for  tat: 
"I  am  more  beautiful  than  thou" — 
"But  I  am  rarer,  anyhow." — 
A  Bramble  from  a  neighboring  hedge 
(The  ancient  Fabulists  allege) 
Reproved  with  consequential  air: 
"Dear  friends,  for  heaven's  sake  forbear 
At  least  before  my  presence  thus 
To  make  so  petulant  a  fuss." 

Moral. 

When  rivals  grow  obstreperous, 
The  peace-maker  is  apt  to  say 
Almost  as  silly  things  as  they. 

66 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 


THE  ASS,  THE  FOX,  AND  THE  LION. 

The  Ass  and  Fox  on  hunting  trip 
Arranged  a  helpful  partnership. 
They  met  a  Lion  on  the  rocks, 
Too  hungry  to  be  safe.     The  Fox, 
To  save  himself  from  such  a  box, 
Promised  Lion  to  contrive 
The  means  to  capture  Ass  alive, 
Provided  Lion  promised  him 
Immunity  of  life  and  limb. 
The  Lion  pledged;  and  Fox's  wit 
Enticed  the  Ass  into  a  pit. 
The  Lion,  evil  epicure, 
Perceiving  Ass  was  now  secure, 
Devoured  the  Fox,  and  from  the  dirt 
Dragged  up  the  Ass  for  his  dessert. 

Moral. 

O  Zeus,  thou  moral  explicator, 
Who  slew  the  traitor  by  the  traitor, 
Why  didst  thou  force  the  harmless  Ass 
To  such  a  miserable  pass? 


THE  FLIES  AND  THE  HONEY-POT. 

A  Jar  of  Honey  chanced  to  spill 
Its  contents  on  the  window-sill 
In  many  a  viscous  pool  and  rill. 

67 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

The  Flies,  attracted  by  the  sweet, 

Began  so  greedily  to  eat, 

They  smeared  their  fragile  wings  and  feet. 

With  many  a  twitch  and  pull  in  vain 
They  gasped  to  get  away  again, 
And  died  in  aromatic  pain. 

Moral. 

O  foolish  creatures  that  destroy 
Themselves  for  transitory  joy. 

THE  MAN  AND  THE  LION. 

A  Man  and  Lion  on  their  travels  tried 

Each  to  convince  the  other  in  his  pride 

Of  strength  and  prowess  given  to  him  alone; 

And  as  they  passed  a  statue  carved  in  stone, 

Labelled  "A  Lion  strangled  by  a  Man," 

The  fellow  said:  "How  strong  we  are,  you  can 

From  this  conceive."    The  Lion  he  replied: 

"Had  but  a  Lion  there  the  chisel  plied, 

The  Man  had  been  beneath  the  Lion's  paws." 

Moral. 
"The  point  of  view"  is  still  the  saving  clause. 

THE  TORTOISE  AND  THE  EAGLE. 

A  Tortoise,  basking  in  the  sun, 
Maintained  his  fate  a  dreadful  one: 
"Ye  swift  birds,  floating  in  the  sky, 

68 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Who'll  teach  poor  Tortoise  how  to  fly?" 
The  Eagle  answered:  "That  will  I." 
And,  being  promised,  as  a  fee, 
The  riches  of  the  old  Red  Sea, 
He  bore  the  Tortoise  up  on  high, 
Then  loosed  his  talons — and  she  fell 
Upon  a  crag  and  cracked  her  shell, 
Uttering  as  a  dying  yell: 
"O  what  had  I  to  do  with  wings 
And  clouds  and  such  aerial  things, 
When,  as  a  lumbering  beast  by  birth, 
I've  scarcely  learned  to  crawl  o'er  earth." 

Moral. 
Know  your  place  and  what  you're  worth. 

THE  FARMER  AND  THE  CRANES. 

The  Cranes  began  to  peck  and  eat 

On  plough-lands  newly  sown  with  wheat. 

The  angry  Farmer,  brandishing 

Around  his  head  an  empty  sling, 

Contrived  to  scare  them  off  a  while. 

But  when  they  marked  the  harmless  wile, 

Why,  back  they  flocked  and  ate  and  ate 

And  let  the  man  vociferate. 

'Twas  then  he  filled  the  sling  with  stones — 

And  all  the  Cranes  they  died  with  groans: 

Moral. 

"Though  many  a  man  prefer  to  bluff, 
It  doesn't  prove  he  lacks  the  stuff." 

69 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 


THE  OXEN  AND  THE  AXLE-TREES. 

A  heavy  wagon  down  a  country  lane 

Was  hauled  by  Oxen  bent  with  toil  and  pain. 

Loud    groaned    the   Axle-trees   and   creaked    the 

Hubs; 

Whereat  the  Oxen:  "You  infernal  Dubs; 
You  make  the  racket;  we  perform  the  work." 

Moral. 
The  biggest  outcry  issues  from  the  shirk. 

THE  SICK  LION. 

A  Lion,  through  infirmities 
No  longer  fit  his  food  to  seize, 
Lies  down  within  his  den  and  feigns 
That  death's  about  to  end  his  pains. 
The  beasts  come  one  by  one  to  see, 
Expressing  heartfelt  sympathy. 
And  Lion  reaches  forth  a  paw, 
And  tucks  them  well  within  his  maw. 
A  Fox,  who  notes  the  trick,  to  save 
His  hams  remains  outside  the  cave, 
Inquiring  how  he  feels  to-day. 
"O  fair  to  middling;  but  I  pray, 
Why  won't  you,  Reynard,  nearer  walk 
And  here  within  sit  down  and  talk?" 
— "So  many  prints  of  feet  I  ken 
That  lead  into  your  dusky  den, 
But  none  of  any  out  again." 

70 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 

Moral. 

Well  armed  is  he  against  surprises 
Who  learns  from  other  folks'  demises. 

THE  RAVEN  AND  THE  SWAN. 

A  Raven  saw  a  snow-white  Swan, 
Its  plumage  gleaming  in  the  dawn; 
And  thinking  that  the  color  came 
From  frequent  washings,  tried  the  same, 
Leaving  the  altars  in  the  village, 
Whereon  his  food  he  used  to  pillage, 
To  make  his  home  by  pool  and  lake. 
This  proved,  it  seems,  a  sad  mistake — 
Since  soon  he  died — for  simple  lack 
Of  food — his  feathers  still  as  black. 

Moral. 

Though  you  may  change  your  habitat, 
Yourself  you  change  not — ponder  that. 

THE  LIONESS. 

Each  female  beast  in  language  bitter 
Denounced  her  female  neighbor's  litter, 
And  boasted  with  conceited  yelps 
How  large  the  number  of  her  whelps. 
They  rushed  unto  the  Lioness: 
"And  you  perhaps  will  settle  this? 
And  by  the  way,  how  many  sons 
Do  you  produce  at  birth  at  once?" — 

71 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

"But  one,  and  yet  that  one,  in  fine," 
She  laughed,  "is  large  and  leonine ; 
And  when  your  whelps  are  grown,  they'll  see 
To  their  confusion" — 

Moral. 

Quality ! 

THE  BEAR  AND  THE  TRAVELERS. 

Two  Travelers  upon  a  mountain  path 

Were  once  confronted  by  a  Bear  in  wrath; 

The  one  he  clambered  up  a  tree  with  vim 

And  sate  contentedly  upon  a  limb; 

And  so  the  other  dropped  and  held  his  breath, 

Lying  upon  his  paunch  and  feigning  death. 

The  Bear  came  up  and  nosed  about  his  head, 

And  (as  a  Bear  will  never  touch  the  dead) 

He  snorted  off.     Then  from  the  tree  the  other, 

Descending  nimbly,  jested:  "Well,  my  brother, 

What  was  it  he  was  whispering  in  your  ear?" — 

"Why,  he  advised  me  not  to  travel  here 

And 

Moral. 

on  all  travels  to  avoid  the  chum 
Who  will  desert  one  when  disasters  come." 

THE   BOASTING   TRAVELER. 

A  man  returning  from  his  travels,  told 
Of  his  adventures  strange  and  manifold — 

72 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  &SOP 

Among  the  rest,  he  could  recall,  he  said, 

How  once  at  Rhodes  he  had  astonished 

The  populace  by  jumping  farther  than 

Had  ever  jumped  before  a  god  or  man, 

And  many  a  witness  could  aver  it  true — 

Whereat  a  bystander:  "No  need  for  you 

To  summon  witnesses.     Our  own  abodes 

Right   here   around   you  —  feign   that    these   are 

Rhodes; 
Then  make  your  jump  for  us." 

Moral. 

These  verses  show 
How  one  should  deal  with  braggadocio. 

THE  GOAT  AND  THE  GOATHERD. 

A  Goatherd  in  a  fit  of  scorn 
Cracked  with  a  stone  a  Nanny's  horn. 
Unskilled  to  mend  with  paste  or  plaster, 
He  begged  her  not  to  tell  his  master. 
"You're  quite  as  silly,  sir,  as  violent — 
The  horn  will  speak,  though  I  be  silent." 

Moral. 

Man  oft  repents  of  what  he  did — 
For  wicked  deeds  cannot  be  hid. 


THE  LION  IN  LOVE. 

A  Lion  to  a  Woodcutter: 

"Your  daughter,  may  I  marry  her?" 

73 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 

The  father,  loath  and  yet  suspecting 
He'd  suffer  violence  by  rejecting, 
Agreed  by  contract  with  the  clause 
To  draw  his  teeth  and  cut  his  claws— 
To  which  the  Lion  gave  assent 
(Love  blinding  him  to  the  intent). 
When  next  the  Beast  awooing  came, 
As  harmless  as  a  cat  and  tame, 
The  Woodcutter  he  seized  an  axe 
And  gave  him  sundry  sudden  whacks. 

Moral. 

A  lover,  who  to  win  a  wife 
Surrenders  all  he's  got  in  life, 

Deserves  to  lose He's  too  romantic ; 

His  lack  of  reason  drives  me  frantic. 


THE  BOY  AND  THE  FILBERTS. 

A  Youngster,  greedy  for  the  Filberts,  grasped 
Deep  down  a  pitcher  with  his  hand  and  clasped 
His  fingers  and  his  thumb  around  so  many 
He  seemed  in  danger  of  not  getting  any — 
For  narrow  was  the  neck  and  big  the  fist. 
And  there  he  stuck  in  tears,  until  his  mother 
(The  dame  was  something  of  a  physicist) 
Remarked:  "Drop  half,  and  then  you  can  untwist 
Your  hand,  my  son,  and  save  yourself  the  other." 

Moral. 
Don't  grab  too  much  at  once,  my  Christian  brother. 

74 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

THE  LABORER  AND  THE  SNAKE. 

A  Snake  from  out  his  hole  beneath 
The  cottage  porch  upon  the  heath 
Crawled  up  and  bit  the  infant  son, 
Who  died  from  what  the  Snake  had  done. 
The  furious  father  with  his  flail 
Missed  the  head,  and  mashed  the  tail. 
And  afterwards,  for  fear  the  Snake 
On  him  might  lethal  vengeance  take, 
Set  down  some  bread  beside  the  hole, 
To  pacify  and  to  cajole. 
The  Serpent  hissed:  "Between  us  twain 
Henceforth  no  peace  can  be,  'tis  plain: 
Whene'er  we  meet,  we  will  remember — 
You  your  Son  and  I  my  Member." 

Moral. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  a  feud 
Imperils  Christian  brotherhood. 

THE  MISER. 

A  Miser  bartered  everything — 

His  house,  his  horse,  his  dog,  his  ring, 

(And  even  his  daughter,  I've  been  told) — 

For  one  enormous  lump  of  gold; 

The  which  he  hid  within  a  hole 

Beside  a  wall.    To  glad  his  soul 

Each  morn  and  eve  he  went  and  took 

75 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

A  silent,  solitary  look. 
A  peasant  in  the  fields  nearby, 
Observing,  filched  it  on  the  sly. 
And  next  when  came  the  Miser  there, 
He  beat  his  breast  and  tore  his  hair. 
A  friend  advised:  "Put  there  a  stone 
And  gaze  and  call  it  all  your  own, 
And  fancy  that's  the  lump  of  gold — 
'Twill  serve  you  quite  as  served  the  old." 

Moral. 

It  was  a  very  sage  adviser 

That  made  this  comment  to  the  Miser. 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  MULE. 

A  Muleteer  and  Mule  and  Ass 

Were  trudging  up  a  mountain  pass. 

The  Ass,  his  load  extraordinary, 

Desired  the  Mule  a  part  to  carry. 

The  Mule  refused  the  small  request; 

And  Ass,  with  trembling  legs  and  breast, 

Sank  down  to  his  eternal  rest. 

The  Muleteer,  not  knowing  what 

To  do  in  such  a  desert  spot, 

Piled  on  the  Mule,  besides  the  load 

The  Mule  was  bearing  up  the  road, 

The  Ass's  pack,  the  Ass's  hide. 

The  Mule  with  much  contrition  cried: 

76 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 


Moral. 

"A  fellow  service  once  neglected 
May  bring  us  troubles  unsuspected.' 


THE  WOLF  IN  SHEEP'S  CLOTHING. 

Once  on  a  time  a  Wolf,  a  vicious, 
Decided  'twould  be  expeditious 
To  case  himself  inside  the  skin 
That  once  a  Sheep  had  wandered  in. 
Thus  clad,  he  pastured  on  the  wold, 
Unmarked  among  the  seely  fold; 
Thus  clad,  among  the  Sheep  he  sate 
That  night  behind  the  wicker  gate. 
The  shepherd  came  with  lantern  dim, 
And  with  his  knife  he  slaughtered  him, 
Supposing  him  the  Sheep  that  he'd 
Intended  for  to  dress  and  bleed 
And  take  to  market  on  the  morrow. 

Moral. 
Seek  a  harm  and  find  a  sorrow. 


THE  PORKER,  THE  SHEEP,  AND  THE  GOAT. 

A  Pig  was  shut  within  the  fold 
That  chanced  a  Sheep  and  Goat  to  hold. 
And  once  the  Shepherd  handling  him 
With  violence  by  an  ear  and  limb, 

77 


JSSOP  AND   HYSSOP 

He  grunted  and  he  squeeked,  he  did. 
Whereat  the  Sheep  and  Goat  they  chid 
"'Tis  most  annoying  all  this  fuss — 
You  see,  he  often  handles  us, 
And  we  don't  carry  on,  sir,  thus." 
— "He  handles  you  for  milk  or  wool, 
But  me  when  he  begins  to  pull, 
He  handles  for  my  very  life; 
And  there's  a  difference — and  a  knife." 

Moral. 

When  we  are  destined  for  the  pot, 
Such  idle  comments  please  us  not 
From  those  who  have  an  easier  lot. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  GOAT. 

A  Fox  once  fell  into  a  well, 
And  how  t'  escape  he  couldn't  tell ; 
When  came  a  Goat  with  thirsty  throat 
And  saw  him  down  there  half  afloat. 
And  on  the  brink  he  stopped  to  think: 
"And  is  the  water  good  to  drink?" 
The  Fox  his  fright  concealed  and  plight 
"O  yes,  the  water  here's  all  right." 
The  Goat  jumps  in  and  barks  his  shin — 
A  victim  of  the  Fox's  sin. 
"But  now  if  you  will  only  do 
What  I  herewith  instruct  you  to, 
We'll  both  be  free — you  set  your  knee 
Against  the  wall  like  this,"  said  he, 

78 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

"And  up  your  back  I'll  make  my  track, 
And  save  you  by  a  simple  knack." 
Then  o'er  his  horn  the  Fox  in  scorn 
Did  climb  and  leave  the  Goat  forlorn. 

Moral. 

Oft,  when  we  aid  another  soul, 
At  last  he  leaves  us  in  the  hole. 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  LAP-DOG. 

An  Ass  observed  his  master's  pet, 
The  Lap-dog,  and  began  to  fret: 
"I  tread  the  mill  to  grind  the  grain; 
I  drag  the  plow,  the  log,  the  wain; 
I  feed  on  water,  hay,  and  oats; 
I  sleep  in  stall  among  the  goats — 
While  he,  he  rolls  upon  his  back, 
Or  paws  a  tit-bit  in  a  sack, 
Or  leaping  on  his  master's  knee 
Snaps  a  sugar-plum  in  glee; 
He  laps  a  spoon  of  Chian  wine; 
He  takes  his  naps  on  cushions  fine — 
Besides,  I  hate  his  silken  ears." 
Whereat  the  Ass  his  own  he  rears, 
In  sudden  hope  these  things  to  alter: 
He  breaks  away  from  cord  and  halter; 
Into  his  master's  house  he  reels 
With  fawning  neck  and  frisking  heels, 
And  smashes  tables,  dishes,  chairs, 

79 


JSSOP  AND   HYSSOP 

And  kicks  the  baby  up  the  stairs. 
And,  mindful  of  the  poodle's  trick, 
He  takes  his  Master  unawares 
And  gives  his  cheek  a  whacking  lick, 
His  fore-hoofs  on  the  shoulder  laid. 
The  Serfs,  by  hubbub  strange  dismayed, 
Rush  in,  and  bang  with  stones  and  staves: 
Till  back  into  the  barn  he  raves. 
And  after  he  has  had  a  chance 
To  think  it  over,  thus  he  pants: 

Moral. 

"O  honest  toil  should  never  itch 
To  imitate  the  idle  rich." 


THE  SHEPHERD-BOY  AND   THE  WOLF. 

A  Shepherd-boy  beside  a  stream 

"The  Wolf,  the  Wolf/'  was  used  to  scream, 

And  when  the  Villagers  appeared, 

He'd  laugh  and  call  them  silly-eared. 

A  Wolf  at  last  came  down  the  steep — 

"The  Wolf,  the  Wolf,— my  legs,  my  sheep." 

The  creature  had  a  jolly  feast, 

Quite  undisturbed,  on  boy  and  beast. 

Moral. 

For  none  believes  the  liar,  forsooth 
Even  when  the  liar  speaks  the  truth. 

80 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 


THE  LION,  THE  MOUSE,  AND  THE  FOX. 

A  Lion,  fatigued  by  the  heat  of  the  day, 

Asleep  in  his  cave  composedly  lay, 

When  a  Mouse,  o'er  his  mane  and  his  ears  on  its 

way, 

Awoke  him  to  fury;  and  round  in  the  den 
He  roared  and  he  reached  without  finding  her, 

when 

A  Fox  came  along  and  lifting  his  brows: 
"Majestical  Lion,  afraid  of  a  Mouse!" — 
"It  isn't  I  fear  her — but  such  a  proceeding 
Provokes  me,  as  showing  no  shimmer  of  breeding." 

Moral. 

It's  the  pert  little  creatures  around  us  so  unctious 
That  make  us  grandees  of  the  world  so  rambunc 
tious. 


THE  SNAPPING  DOG. 

A  Dog,  who  ran  at  people's  heels  by  stealth 
And  snapped,  imperiling  their  peace  and  health, 
One  morning  found  about  his  neck  a  bell, 
Suspended  by  his  master,  to  compel 
Due  notice  of  his  coming  everywhere. 
The  Dog  began  to  give  himself  an  air, 
And  tinkled  with  it  round  the  market-place. 
An  old  Hound  said:  "Why  flaunt  you  your  dis 
grace— 

81 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Sign  of  that  evil  nature  you  inherit — 
As  if  insignia  of  an  order  of  merit?" 

Moral. 

Some  dogs  who  make  a  noise  and  get  a  name 
Mistake  their  notoriety  for  fame. 

THE  OXEN  AND  THE  BUTCHERS. 

The  Oxen  gathered  on  a  day, 
Resolving  how  at  once  to  slay 
The  Butchers — men  whose  trade  to  them 
It  seemed  but  natural  to  condemn. 
When  one,  the  chief  in  gravity, 
Arose,  a  bold  and  bovine  Nestor: 
"Though  these  same  Butchers,"  stated  he, 
"Us  even  unto  death  do  pester, 
They  slaughter  us  with  skilful  knives 
And  little  pain — our  wretched  lives 
Would  be  more  wretched  with  such  satyrs 
As  less  experienced  operators, 
Who'd  gash  and  hack  and  choke  our  breath 
And  keep  us  half  the  day  in  dying — 
And  that  would  be  a  double  death. 
For  surely  there  is  no  denying, 
Though  Butchers  perished,  'tis  our  grief 
That  men  will  never  lack  for  beef." 

Moral. 

This  evil  world  is  full  of  tricks, 
And  life  itself's  a  pretty  fix — 

82 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  &SOP 

Our  luck  consists  in  clearing  out 
By  what's  the  least  protracted  route. 

THE  HORSE  AND  THE  GROOM. 

A  Groom,  whose  fancy  went  aroaming, 
Spent  his  mornings  currycombing, 
But  stole  the  oats  and  sold  for  ale. 
At  last  the  Horse :  "Good  master,  hail — 
But  if  you  wish  my  coat  to  shine, 
You'll  feed  me  more  and  groom  me  less." 

Moral. 

You  can't  succeed  in  any  line, 
My  friend,  unless  you  have — success. 

THE  BOYS  AND  THE  FROGS. 

Some  boys  did  pelt  the  Frogs  with  stones 
And  banged  them  on  the  brains; 
And  laughed  to  hear  the  dying  groans 
Of  Rana  Pipiens. 

Till  one  petitioned  with  a  croak, 
His  head  above  the  water: 
"Stop,  Boys, — for  what's  to  you  a  joke, 
To  us,  to  us  is  slaughter." 

Moral. 

O  Heedless  Harry,  Tom,  and  Dick, 
O  little  Paul  and  Percy, 
Renounce  your  murderous  stone  and  stick, 
And  join  a  Band  of  Mercy. 

83 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 


THE  SALT  PEDLAR  AND  THE  ASS. 

An  Ass  was  trudging  inland  from  the  sea, 

A  load  of  salt  upon  his  weary  back, 

When,  as  he  crossed  a  ford,  he  slipped  and  fell. 

Arising,  he  observed  complacently 

The  weight  was  almost  melted  from  the  sack — 

And  life  was  brightening  up  for  him  a  spell. . . . 

The  Pedlar  headed  round,  and  at  the  brine 
Refilled  the  pannier.     In  the  stream  again, 
The  Ass  on  purpose  sank  and  sloughed  the  load; 
And  with  a  bray,  triumphant,  asinine, 
Bounced  up  and  on.     The  angry  master  then 
Returned  once  more  along  the  seaward  road 

And  bought  a  string  of  sponges.    At  the  ford 
The  Ass,  who  still  would  play  the  knave,  fell  ill — 
Only  to  rise  with  burden  multiplied. 

Moral. 

For  'tis  a  regulation  of  the  Lord 

That  sponges  hold  a  deal  of  water, — till 

They're  squeezed  or  dried. 


ELEGIACS  ON  THE  WOLVES  AND  THE  SHEEP. 

(Friends  of  the  classical  mUse,  I  desire  to  show 

you  a  clever 

Sample  of  verse  of  the  sort  critics  forbid  us  to 
write, — 

84 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Cunning  indeed  as  I  am  to  pry  with  the  lyrical 

lever 
Rhymes  from  the  rocks  of  Parnass,  rhythms  of 

ancient  delight.) 

"Come,  and  we'll  end  this  implacable  hatred  be 
tween  us  forever," 
Argued  the  Wolves  with  the  Sheep,  planning  a 

meal  for  the  night; 
"Surely  the  Dogs,  the  malicious,  who  bark  at  our 

honest  endeavor, 

Darken  your  judgment  of  Wolves,  fill  you  ab 
surdly  with  fright".  . . 

So  in  a  moment  the  Dogs  they  released,  and  after 
wards  never 
Needed  a  warning  again,  Sheep  of  the  heath  and 

the  height. . . 
Bleating  their  last,  as  the  Wolves  their  succulent 

vitals  dissever — 
Stomach  and  bowels  and  brain,  kidney  and  liver 

and  light. 
O  you  would  surely  have  shouted: 

Moral 

"How  ghastly, 
Mamma! — did  you  ever 

See  on  your  travels  before — ugh! — such  a  hor 
rible  sight?" 

THE  SICK  STAG. 

A  sick  Stag,  gathering  up  some  food, 
Sought  out  a  corner  of  the  wood. 

85 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

His  comrades  came,  solicitous 
His  cure  and  ailment  to  discuss, 
While  each  one  helped  himself  until 
The  Creature  starved  to  death. 

Moral. 

And  thus 

The  Kantian  ethics,  the  "good  will," 
Divorced  from  common  sense,  may  kill. 
(Or  if  that  Moral's  too  abstruse, 
This  may  be  nearer  to  your  use: 
A  Man  himself  from  Foes  defends — 
But  Heaven  must  save  him  from  his  Friends.) 

THE  JACKDAW. 

Said  Zeus  with  most  Olympian  words: 

"I  will  appoint  a  king  of  Birds — 

The  Bird  most  beautiful  to  see, 

By  Styx  I  vow  it,  shall  be  he." 

The  day  arrived  for  the  convention, 

And  Birds  too  numerous  to  mention — 

From  rivers,  fields,  and  woods,  and  hills — 

Herons,  Hawks,  and  Whippoorwills, 

Ducks,  Flamingoes,  and  Crossbills, 

Warblers,  Robins,  Sandpipers, 

Eagles,  Veeries,  Woodpeckers, 

Juncos,  Orioles,  Purple  Crackles, 

Cooing  Cuckoos,  Geese  with  cackles, 

Peacocks,  Quails,  and  Ringdoves — all 

The  list  enthusiasts  may  recall 

From  Whitman's  "Leaves,"  or  student  sees 

86 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

In  standard  ornithologies 

(As  Audubon's  or  Chapman's)  flew — 

Gold  or  black,  or  white  or  blue, 

Speckled  wing  or  crested  head, 

Belly  brown  or  gold  or  red, 

Such  as  Chaucer  would  have  sung 

In  his  merry  antique  tongue — 

Perched  about  on  balustrade 

Or  stalked  along  the  colonnade 

In  courts  of  marble,  onyx,  jade. 

Among  them  Zeus  remarked  the  Jackdaw- 

Now  no  ordinary  black  Daw; 

Since,  conscious  of  his  ugliness, 

He'd  got  himself  another  dress. 

From  every  by-way,  green,  and  shaw, 

He'd  gathered  up  whate'er  he  saw, 

And  stuck  his  body,  tail  to  head, 

With  alien  plumes  the  rest  had  shed. 

When  in  delight  Zeus  at  the  sight 

Had  named  this  Creature  king  by  right, 

Each  Bird  began  to  chirp,  or  cheep, 

Twitter,  caw,  or  bark,  or  peep 

(According  to  the  natural  status 

Of  his  vocal  apparatus), 

And  rushing  madly  plucked  with  vim 

The  feather  that  belonged  to  him  — 

And  left  the  Daw  his  former  state, 

Ridiculous  to  contemplate. 

All-seeing  Zeus,  in  great  chagrin 

At  being  thus-wise  taken  in, 

Dismissed  the  meeting. 

87 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Moral. 

O  my  Son, 

Feathers  are  no  cri-ter-i-on : 
They  are  indeed  an  idle  show — 
And  borrowed  too,  for  all  you  know. 

THE  VINE  AND  THE  GOAT. 

A  Goat  was  nibbling  on  a  Vine, 
On  glossy  leaves  and  tendrils  fine: 
"Why  wilt  thou  rend  me  thus,  alas — 
And  is  there  then  no  good  in  grass? 
But  when  the  vintage  comes,  I'll  be, 
Thou  bearded  Goat,  revenged  on  thee,- 
For  at  the  altar  'twill  be  mine 
To  furnish  to  the  priest  the  wine 
Which  he  with  pious  lips  and  eyes 
Shall  pour  o'er  thee,  thou  sacrifice 
To  Dionysos,  god  of  grapes." 

Moral. 

From  Nemesis,  ye  Jackanapes, 
This  world  affordeth  few  escapes. 

THE  OX  AND  THE  FROG. 

An  Ox,  his  gullet  for  to  cool, 
Once  took  a  drink  from  out  a  pool. 
And  shortly  after,  Madame  Frog, 
Returning  to  her  native  bog, 

88 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Missed  a  member  of  her  family: 

"Where  is  your  brother?"    "O  Mamma" 

(They   croaked   around   her,   jumping   clammily) 

"The  biggest  Beast  you  ever  saw 

Just  now  with  monstrous  cloven  heel 

Crushed  our  Jimmy  in  the  ooze 

And  left  him  there — a  shapeless  bruise, 

Without  a  head,  a  leg,  a  squeal." 

The  Dame  she  swelled  with  furious  puff: — 

"Now  am  I,  Froggies,  big  enough 

To  meet  and  slay  this  murderer?" — 

"O  Mother,  if  you  only  were!" 

Moral. 

Some  situations  are  immutable — 
And,  Nature,  thou  art  quite  inscrutable. 


THE  PHILOSOPHER  CAUTIONED. 

A  sympathetic,  peripatetic,  erratic,  emphatic  old 
Philosopher, 

Standing  on  a  bluff, 

Sees  a  vessel  founder  in  the  waves  that  pound 
her, 

And  getting  really  cross  over  such  a  horrid  toss 
over, 

Says :  "This  is  pretty  tough— 

O  Providence,  subliminal  and  transcendental, 

That  punishest  one  criminal  and  makest  an  acci 
dental 

89 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

End  of  all  the  rest — the  good,  the  better,  and  the 

best  I— 
My  views  on  teleology,  and  cosmology,  and  theol 
ogy 

Are  scattered  galley-west." 

But  while  he  speaks,  he  plants 

Unwittingly  his  foot 

Upon  a  neighboring  nest 

Of  busy  ants. 

Now,  one  of  evil  brain  and  machinations  vain, 

Clambers  up  his  boot, 

And  underneath  his  pants 

Upon  his  tender  skin  gets  well  its  nippers  in. 

Whereat  he  roars  and  jumps,  and  with  his  heel 
he  thumps 

Till,  crushed  and  smothered  in  the  loam, 

All  the  poor  ants  are  sent  to  their  long  home— 

Except  that  single  one 

Who  all  the  harm  had  done. 

Moral. 

This  is  a  most  peculiar  universe ; 
And  that  against  which  we  are  prone  to  curse 
Often  by  our  own  conduct  we  make  worse. 


THE  FLY  AND  THE  BALD  MAN. 

Upon  a  Bald  Man's  shining  crown 

A  winged  fly  alit: 
With  legs  apart  and  evil  neck  bent  down, 

The  Creature  bit. 

90 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

The  Man,  to  slay  the  Insect,  gave 

Himself  a  slap  in  vain — 
Whereat  the  Fly:  "And  art  thou  such  a  knave 

As  to  disdain 

"Thy  body,  temple  of  thy  soul 

That  dwells,  O  Man,  inside? 
Or  hast  thou  never   practised   self-control?" — 

The  Man  replied: 

"With  my  own  self  I'll  make  my  peace, 

Knowing  my  own  intent; 
And  I'll  repair  ere  long  with  cooling  grease 

This  accident. 

"But  thou,  but  thou,  pestiferous, 

I  still  would  gladly  drub, 
Impertinent,  ill-favored  little  Cuss, 

Beelzebub, 

"Who  vilely  suckest  human  veins, — 

Even  though  it  bred 
Immedicable,  self-inflicted  pains 

To  smite  thee  dead." 

Moral. 

This  fellow's  sorry  fit  of  pique, 

Alas,  too  plainly  tells 
How  man  prefers  his  vengeance  for  to  wreak 

Before  all  else. 

91 


JESOP  AND   PIYSSOP 


THE   CAT  AND   APHRODITE. 

A  Cat  observed  a  Youth,  a  stately, 

And  followed,  loving  desperately — 

Rubbing  on  his  legs  and  bowing, 

Purring  now,  and  now  meowing 

(For  even  the  chaste,  when  smit  by  Cupid, 

Are  in  their  antics  very  stupid). 

'Twas  vain;  and  so  with  fancy  flighty 

She  begged  a  boon  of  Aphrodite: 

"Feline  I,  and  he  a  human — 

Change  my  form  to  that  of  woman!" 

The  Goddess  heard — and  lo,  a  lady 

As  fair  as  any  Sue  or  Sady, 

In  whose  shapely  amorous  fingers 

No  remnant  of  a  claw  now  lingers, 

From  whose  eyes  the  oblong  iris 

Is  gone,  like  -ffigypt  and  Osiris, 

On  whose  lips  no  whiskers  tickle 

To  still  betray  that  cats  are  fickle, 

And  from  whose  rump  the  tail  is  pulled 

(Or  else  of  course  no  man  were  fooled). 

It  was  a  clever  metamorphosis; 

Indeed  in  Ovid's  pages  more  fuss  is 

Often  made  about  a  lesser. 

Well,  then,  the  Youth  he  did  address  her 

Making  the  ancient  vows  erotic 

Which  to  repeat  were  idiotic; 

And  soon  by  priest,  an  empty  pated, 

The  ill-assorted  pair  were  mated. 

92 


I 

FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  SESOP 

But  Aphrodite,  the  designing, 
As  once  they  sat  at  home  reclining, 
Let  down  a  mouse  athrough  the  ceiling, 
And  sent  him  round  the  chamber  squealing. 
The  bride  made  after  in  a  bee-line — 
Sure  indication  of  the  feline. 

Moral. 

It  is  an  olden  saw  and  bitter: 

A  change  of  form  won't  change  the  critter. 


THE  NORTH  WIND  AND  THE  SUN. 

The   North  wind   and  the   Sun,   disputing  which 
Has  brought  his  power  to  the  higher  pitch, 
Do  each  agree  to  try  the  matter  out 
Upon  the  cloak  that  wraps  a  man  about 
Who  chances  now  upon  the  horizon's  verge. 
The  North  wind  blows  with  a  tremendous  splurge, 
The  while  the  Chap,  at  each  more  furious  blast, 
Gathers  anew  the  folds  and  makes  more  fast. 
The  Sun,  however,  with  his  genial  rays 
In  patient  silence  round  the  shoulder  plays — 
Until  the  owner  of  his  own  free  will 
Removes  his  cloak  and  sits  by  yonder  hill 
Beneath  a  tree  beside  the  water  courses. 

Moral. 

Persuasion's  far  more  forcible  than  Force  is. 

93 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 


THE  STAG  AT  THE  POOL. 

A  thirsty  Stag  beside  a  pool — 
Who  meant  to  drink  a  belly-ful — 
Observed  with  pride  and  with  dejection 
The  outlines  of  his  own  reflection: 
His  branching  antlers  he  admired, 
His  legs  left  much  to  be  desired — 
Calves  scarcely  thicker  than  a  teat, 
And  such  ridiculous  splay-feet. 
Just  then  a  Lion  hove  in  sight, 
Whereat  the  Stag  he  took  to  flight ; 
And  whilst  upon  the  open  lea, 
He  used  his  legs  successfully; 
But,  entering  a  wood,  he  caught 
Upon  his  antlers,  quite  distraught. 
The  Lion  clawed :  His  Hour  had  come — 
Reminding  us  of  Absalom. 

Moral  1. 

The  things  that  we  despise  may  give 
The  very  means  whereby  to  live. 

Moral  2. 

The  things  we  glory  in  may  be 
Destructive  of  longevity. 

Moral  3. 

O  let  us  learn  to  estimate 

Our  functions  at  their  proper  rate. 

94 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 


Moral  4. 

In  this  vile  world  of  danger  and  abuse, 
The  test  of  values  is  not  looks  but  use. 


THE  MILLER,   HIS   SON,  AND   THEIR  ASS. 

A  Miller  and  his  Son  were  driving 
Their  chubby  Ass,  a  sleek  and  thriving, 
To  market  with  intent  to  sell. 
They  passed  some  damsels  by  a  well, 
Laughing,  gossiping  in  troops: 
"Just  look  at  yonder  nincompoops," 
They  cry,  "who  trudge  on  foot  beside 
That  beast  that  one  at  least  might  ride." 
The  sire,  a  man  to  whom  advice 
Was  welcome,  whatsoe'er  the  price, 
Resented  not  the  ladies'  titter, 
But  set  his  son  upon  the  critter; 
When  presently  they  met  a  crowd 
Of  gray-haired  gentry,  bent  and  bowed, 
Before  an  inn  in  grave  debate: 
"There,"  argued  one,  "this  proves  the  state 
Of  this  degenerate  age — Young  Scamp, 
Get  down  from  off  that  Ass  and  tramp, 
And  give  your  sire  a  seat  on  him 
To  rest  his  weary  length  of  limb." 
The  sire,  a  man  to  whom  advice 
Was  welcome,  whatsoe'er  the  price, 
Resenting  not  this  speech  upon 
His  honest  and  obedient  son, 

95 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Effected  the  exchange  of  seats; 
When  somewhat  later  on  he  meets 
A  throng  of  little  girls  and  boys, 
Who  stop  their  play  and  make  a  noise : 
"Old  Codger,  lazy  Miller  you, 
You  have  an  easy  time,  you  do; 
You  ride  along,  but  little  sonny 
Finds  his  travels  far  from  funny." 
The  Miller,  one  to  whom  advice 
Was  welcome,  whatsoe'er  the  price, 
Resented  not  this  juvenile 
Impertinence,  but  with  a  smile 
Contrived  to  have  his  offspring  jump 
Behind  and  sit  upon  the  rump. 
And  now  they'd  almost  reached  the  town. 
A  citizen  was  walking  down: 
"Pray,  clever  friend,  may  I  inquire — 
That  Ass,  sir,  do  you  own  or  hire?" — 
"I  own  him,  yes." — "One  wouldn't  know  it- 
The  way  you  load  him  doesn't  show  it. 
Why,  you  are  better  fixed,  you  two, 
To  carry  him  than  he,  sirs,  you." 
The  sire,  a  man  to  whom  advice 
Was  welcome,  whatsoe'er  the  price, 
Resented  not  his  angry  eye: 
"Perhaps  so,  sir;  we  can  but  try." 
Whereat  they  both  alit  and  bound 
The  Ass,  upturned  upon  the  ground, 
And  passed  a  pole  between  his  legs, 
And,  like  two  carriers  with  kegs, 
Behind,  before,  along  they  swung, 

96 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  &SOP 

The  pole  upon  their  shoulders  hung. 
They  struck  the  bridge.    The  citizens 
Came  roaring  round  by  fives  and  tens. 
The  Ass,  excited  by  the  scandal, 
And  grieved  that  thus  his  masters  handle 
A  faithful  servant,  brought  to  town — 
Like  garden  truck,  and  upside  down — 
Burst  his  cords  and  broke  the  pole, 
And  o'er  the  rail  with  kick  and  roll 
Tumbled  madly  in  the  river, 
And  passed  from  life  with  splash  and  shiver. 
The  Miller  and  his  Son,  regretting, 
Trudged  homeward  petulantly  fretting. 

Moral. 

Advice  is  good,  but  use  your  wit, 
And  do  not  always  follow  it. 

THE  SWAN  AND  THE  GOOSE. 

A  rich  man  bought  a  Swan  and  Goose, — 
That  for  song,  and  this  for  use. 
It  chanced  his  simple-minded  cook 
One  night  the  Swan  for  Goose  mistook. 
But  in  the  dark  about  to  chop 
The  Swan  in  two  above  the  crop, 
He  heard  the  lyric  note  and  stayed 
The  action  of  the  fatal  blade. 

Moral. 

And  thus  we  see  a  proper  tune 
Is  sometimes  very  opportune. 

97 


&SOP  AND  HYSSOP 


THE  EAGLE,  THE  CAT,  AND  THE  WILD  SOW. 

An  Eagle  made  her  nest 

In  topmost  branches  of  a  lofty  oak. 

A  Cat  began  to  climb  and  poke 

And  found  a  place  to  rest 

Within  a  rotted  hole 

Some  half  way  up  the  bole 

(Bole,  children,  means  the  trunk), 

And,  having  lots  of  spunk, 

She  kittened  there  to  boot. 

But  now 

A  lumbering  nine-farrow  Sow 

Had  taken  hoggish  shelter  in  a  hollow  at  its  foot. 

The  Cat  resolved  by  arts  of  perfidy 

To  end  each  irksome,  casual  colony. 

Up  to  the  Eagle  then  she  went : 

"Destruction  waits  below  for  you  and  me — 

The  Sow  you  view  each  day  in  digging  bent 

Will  soon  uproot  our  tree." 

She  left  the  Eagle  victimized, 

And  down  beside  the  Sow  advised: 

"Look  out;  the  Eagle  there  on  top 

Intends,  when  you're  away,  to  drop 

And  seize  your  little  pigs,  my  dear." 

Thus  both  the  Eagle  and  the  Sow  in  fear 

Remain  at  home  and  starve  with  all  their  teeny 

Cunning,  innocent  progeny. 

(This  stupid  story  makes  my  head  so  sleepy, 

I'm  getting  shaky  in  my  orthoepy.) 

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FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

At  any  rate  the  Cat  and  kittens  fed 
For  many  days  and  fattened  on  the  dead. 

Moral. 

It's  easy  to  be  clever, 
O  my  little  pupils, 
//  a  man  has  never 
Any  moral  scruples. 

THE  FOX  AND  THE  HEDGEHOG. 

A  Fox  who  swam  across  a  torrent 
Was  swept  along  by  wave  and  current 
Into  a  dank  and  dark  ravine, 
Where  long  he  lay,  until  gangrene 
Set  in  and  made  him  most  unclean 
And  wretched.    (For  upon  the  rocks 
He'd  gotten  scratches,  bruises,  knocks.) 
Besides,  the  vile  retreat  was  warm. 
So,  soon  there  settled  down  a  swarm 
Of  sucking  flies  upon  the  Fox. 
The  Hedgehog  came  commiserating, 
In  kindly  words  his  purpose  stating: 
"I'll  drive  the  horrid  flies  away." 
"No,  gentle  Hedgehog,  let  them  stay. 
For  these  same  flies  are  full  of  gore, 
So  full  they  can't  suck  any  more. 
They  sting  me  little.     I  am  freighted 
At  present  with  the  satiated. 
But  should  they  leave,  their  hungry  kin 
Would  come,  and  stick  their  suckers  in, 
And  drink  the  blood  that  yet  remains." 

99 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Moral. 
In  times  of  trouble  use  your  brains. 

THE  WIDOW  AND  THE  SHEEP. 

A  certain  Widow,  poor  and  lonely, 

Had  a  sheep,  her  own  and  only. 

At  shearing  time  to  save  expense 

Herself  she  clipped  him  by  the  fence, 

But  chopped  the  flesh  as  well  as  wool. 

Whereat  the  Sheep  with  balk  and  pull: 

"O  mistress,  mistress,  give  me  peace — 

My  blood  adds  nothing  to  the  fleece. 

If  'tis  my  flesh  that  you  desire, 

You  may  the  skilful  butcher  hire; 

If  'tis  my  wool,  the  shearer's  son 

Can  do  the  operati-on." 

The  Crone  was  obstinate  and  cracked — 

And  so  she  hacked  and  hacked  and  hacked, 

Until  the  creature  bled  to  pieces 

In  useless  fragments,  bones  and  greases ; 

Whilst  the  spoiled  wool  amid  the  ooze 

Dyed  red  the  Widow's  wooden  shoes. 

Moral. 

An  expert's  service  and  advice 
Is  likely  to  be  worth  the  price. 

THE  DOLPHINS,  THE  WHALES,  AND  THE  SPRAT. 
The  Dolphins  and  the  Whales  were  splashing, 
Lashing,  dashing,  smashing,  crashing, 

100 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

And  round  the  rolling  billows  thrashing 
In  battle  piscine  and  mammalian — 
The  Whales  were  more  sesquipedalian; 
The  Dolphins  in  agility 
Displayed  the  more  facility. 
We  men,  we  like  to  watch  a  rumpus, 
When  combatants  don't  stop  to  thump  us,- 
Not  so  the  tender-hearted  Sprat. 
He  raised  his  head,  and  where  he  sat 
Quite  altruistical-ly  gat 
A  shock  of  sudden  grief  at  that. 
"Don't  pound  each  other  to  a  jelly, 
But  state  to  me  the  casus  belli, 
And  I'll  adjudicate,"  he  said. 
"Duck  under  your  confounded  head," 
They  roar,  "and  hold  your  clappers  to— 
We'd  rather  smite  till  all  were  dead 
Than  once  defer  to  such  as  you." 

Moral. 

When  Whales  and  Dolphins  have  a  spat, 
The  peace  tribunal  is  a  Sprat; 
When  Nations  at  each  other  peg, 
The  peace  tribunal  is  the  Hague — 
But  which  can  better  arbitrate, 
Is  not  quite  certain  up  to  date. 

THE  TWO  POTS. 
Two  Pots  adown  a  river  pass. 
One  is  earthen,  one  is  brass. 
The  Earthen  to  the  Other  saith: 

101 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

"Don't  come  nigh  me — you'll  be  my  death, 
For  if  you  bump,  you'll  thump  and  shiver 
All  my  person  in  the  river, 
And  that  would  be  a  sorry  end." 

Moral. 
An  equal  makes  the  only  friend. 

THE  CRAB  AND  ITS  MOTHER. 

A  Crab  unto  her  progeny: 

"Thou  walkest  so  lop-sidedly; 

A  steady  gait  and  straight  ahead 

Is  more  becoming  and  well-bred." 

"But,  Mother,  show  me,  if  you  can," 

Replied  the  young  Crustace-an. 

The  Mother's  effort  was  an  antic 

Pedantic,  frantic,  unromantic, 

A  wriggling,  wobbling,  jerking,  clawing 

With  bulging  eyes,  and  head  see-sawing— 

A  work  ill-fitted  to  inspire 

Respect,  affection,  or  desire. 

The  infant  Crab  replied  distracted: 

"O  Mama,  Mama,  how  you  acted!" 

Moral  1. 

Example  is  the  only  teacher 
For  man  or  crab  or  any  creature. 

Moral  2. 

Parents,  avoid  such  exhibitions 
Before  your  children  of  conditions 
That  mock  your  worthy  expositions. 

102 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 


THE  OLIVE  AND  THE  FIG-TREE. 

The  Olive  ridiculed  the  Fig-tree:  "Lo, 

Through  all  the  year  my  bright  green  leaves  I 

keep; 

But  you,  when  winter  winds  begin  to  blow, 
Are  shorn  as  any  sheep." 

But  on  the  Olive's  foliage  the  snow 

Fell  all  one  night,  and  with  the  morning  sun 

The  sparkling  weight  had  bowed  and  cracked  her 

so, 
The  Olive  was  undone, — 

Yet  left  unharmed  the  gaunt  and  sturdy  Fig, 
Because  it  sifted  to  the  earth  below 
Through  the  interstices  of  branch  and  twig. — 
O  children,  ye  should  know: 

Moral. 

The  robes  of  luxury,  the  pomp  of  ease, 
Whereby  mankind  conceives  himself  so  strong, 
May  prove  his  ruin,  as  it  did  the  tree's, 
When  tempests  come  along. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  LION. 

Lo,  when  the  Fox  on  a  day  discovered  the  Lion 

the  first  time, 

Truly  his  cunning  was  gone,  truly  his  terror 
was  great; 

103 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Yet,  when  he  saw  him  again,  he  found  that  he 

hadn't  a  worse  time, 
Feeling  indeed,  though  alarmed,  able  to  master 

his  state. 

Then  on  occasion  the  third  with  a  boldness  surpris 
ing  he  waited, 

Walking  a  while  by  his  side,  telling  the  Lion 
the  news. 

Moral. 

Children,  recall  that  your  terrors  at  last  are  often 

abated, 
After  a  season  or  so,  after  reflection  and  use. 


THE  CAT  AND   THE   BIRDS. 

A  scrawny  Cat  whose  food  is  failing, 

On  hearing  that  some  Birds  are  ailing, 

Procures  a  doctor's  cap  and  cane 

And  spectacles  and  leather  box; 

Then,  sauntering  out  through  wind  and  rain, 

Upon  the  Avi-ary  knocks: 

"For  every  ill,  I  have  a  pill."— 

"We're  very  well  and  think  we  will 

Undoubtedly  remain  so,  if 

You'll  keep  away,"  they  say  with  sniff. 

Moral. 

Whate'er  your  troubles,  whether  reelings, 
Or  those  dreadful  tired  feelings, 
Whether  *  *  *  *,  whether  bunyons, 

104 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Stomach-ache  from  eating  onions, 
Pickles,  lobsters,  milk  at  night, 
Or  a  pain  in  groin  or  light, 
Or  the  more  insistent  growls 
In  the  region  of  the  *  *  *  *, 
Palpitation  of  the  heart, 
Tendency  of  skin  to  smart, 
Coated  tongue,  or  blackheads,  or 
Fistula,  or  running  sore, 
Goitre,  carbuncle,  or  sty, 
Wrinkles,  rings  around  the  eye, 


Whether  rumblings  in  the  ears, 
Or  unmentionable  fears 
That  secretly  do  gnaw  and  vex  us 
About  the  kidneys,  solar  plexus, 
Vermiform  appendix,  and 
Bladder,  liver,  pineal  gland, 
Cortex,  coccyx,  and  aorta  — 
But,  as  life  is  rather  short,  a 
Partial  list  will  have  to  do; 
Although  I  might  have  added  too 
Apoplexies  in  the  brains, 
Knots  and  swellings  in  the  veins, 
Symptoms  of  consumptions,  dropsies. 
Fevers  —  plain  without  autopsies  — 
Baldness,  scrofula,  myopic 
Eyesight  —  but  my  major  topic: 
Whate'er  your  troubles,  don't  be  lax 
In  speedily  avoiding  quacks. 

105 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 


THE  WOLF  AND  THE  SHEPHERDS. 

A  passing  Wolf  who  stopped  before 
A  Shepherds'  hut,  through  open  door 
Spied  them  eating,  each  a  glutton, 
Merrily  a  haunch  of  mutton. 
"What  a  clamor  there  would  be, 
Should  you  shepherds  once  catch  me 
Doing  what  you're  doing  there." 

Moral. 

Children,  children,  have  a  care: 
Do  not  loiter  at  the  shops 
Sucking  nasty  lollypops; 
Do  not  fill  your  pants  with  worms, 
Lobsters,  or  echinoderms. 


THE  HEN  AND  THE  VIPER'S  EGGS. 

Hen  once  found  the  eggs  of  Viper, 

And  exclaimed  rejoicing:  "I  per- 

Ceive  a  chance  for  altruism." 

(Clever  female  witticism.) 

So  she  warmed  them,  so  she  nourished, 

And  the  little  vipers  flourished 

Till  they  swelled,  and  twitched  and  wriggled, 

Burst  their  shells  and  waggled-wiggled 

In  the  sands  and  round  her  toes, 

Up  her  back  and  'long  her  nose — 

Wormy,  squirmy  vipers.    "Blast  it," 

Said  the  Hen,  quite  flabbergasted. 

106 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Moral. 

Ladies,  ladies,  don't  attempt  to 
Do  the  things  you  weren't  meant  to. 
Keep  at  home  and  hatch  your  chickens, 
Or  you'll  scamper  like  the  dickens. 

THE  PUPPY  AND  THE  OYSTER. 

Mack,  a. puppy  fond  of  eggs, 

Waddles  on  his  jointed  legs 

'Long  the  shore  and  spies  an  Oyster 

Where  no  fishwives,  men,  nor  boys  stir — 

On  the  lonely  sands  where  dog 

Can  sun  himself  or  bark  or  jog 

Unmolested.    As  the  Puppy 

Feels  the  time  has  come  to  sup,  he 

Swallows  down  the  bivalve  whole — 

Dying  soon  with  twitch  and  roll, 

From  the  torment  in  his  stomach. 

Moral. 

O  how  silly  and  how  dumb,  Mack! 
Lo,   not  everything   that's  round 
Is  an  egg  upon  the  ground. 

THE  FOX  AND  THE  BRAMBLE. 

A  Fox,  who  'long  the  cliffs  would  gambol, 
Once  fell  and  caught  upon  a  Bramble, 
And  having  pricked  and  torn  his  soles, 
He  roared  indignant  rigmaroles: 
"Thou  bush  of  a  Satanic  seed 

107 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

That  makes!  me,  the  Fox,  to  bleed !" 
The  Bramble  patiently  replied: 
"Were  't  not  for  me,  you'd  soon  have  died 
Down  there  below  the  mountain-side." 

Moral. 

When  remedies  are  rather  drastic, 
We  do  not  wax  enthusiastic. 

THE  FISHER  AND  THE  LITTLE  FISH. 

A  Fisherman,  who  lived  upon 
The  paltry  fish  he  chanced  to  get 
By  sitting  out  there  in  the  sun 
And  whistling  daily  by  his  net, 
Once  caught  as  issue  of  his  sport 
At  close  of  day  one  tiny  short 

And  ungrown  Fishling,  who  convul 
sively  began  with  panting  breath: 
"Are  you  indeed  not  very  dull 
To  doom  a  fish  like  me  to  death, 
The  smallest  fish  on  sea  or  earth — 
What  can  so  small  a  fish  be  worth? 

"Wait  till  I've  got  my  growth,  and  now 

Return  me  quickly  to  the  sea; 

And  in  a  year  or  so,  I  trow, 

You'll  find  me  much  more  good  for  thee — 

A  whopping,  a  surpassing  fish, 

A  rich  man's  dish,  a  rich  man's  dish." 

The  Fisherman  replied: 
108 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  &SOP 

Moral. 

"I  were 

Indeed  a  fool  to  throw  away, 

For  something  I  must  long  defer, 

Whatever  I  have  got  to-day — 

Even  though  it  be  a  shrimp  like  thee: 

So,  one  small  Fish,  thou'lt  come  with  me." 


THE  WASP,  THE  PARTRIDGE,  AND  THE 
FARMER. 

The  Wasps  and  Partridges,  undone 
With  thirst  beneath  the  summer  sun, 
Unto  the  Farmer  come  and  ask 
A  sip  or  two  from  out  his  flask. 
They  promise  to  repay  his  favor: 
"We  birds  will  dig  around  your  vines 
And  give  your  grapes  a  genial  flavor." 
''We  Wasps  will  guard  from  thieves'  designs 
And  scare  the  prowling  urchins  off." 
The  Farmer  then:  "Enough,  enough; 
I've  two  yoke-oxen  who  have  long 
Performed  these  services  for  me, 
Faithful,  intelligent,  and  strong — 
No  such  arch-promisers  as  ye. 
'Tis  fitter  I  give  drink  to  them." 

Moral. 

Phrase  for  yourselves  the  apothegm. 
109 


2ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 


THE  ASS  AND  THE  HORSE. 

An  Ass  besought  a  noble  Steed 

To  spare  him  but  a  bit  of  feed. — 

"If  any's  left  when  I  have  fed, 

'Tis  yours,  my  pretty  Ass,"  he  said. 

"And  if  you'll  come  this  evening  back 

To  my  own  stall,  I'll  give  a  sack 

Of  barley — for  noblesse  oblige." 

"Sir  Horse,  indeed,  I'll  not  besiege 

Your  kindness  further — keep  your  barley." 

Moral. 
At  high  folks'  doors  don't  beg  or  parley. 

THE  BOY  AND  THE  NETTLES. 
A  Youngster,  by  a  Nettle  stung, 
Ran  home  to  mother  screaming,  flung 
Himself  into  her  lap,  and  cried: 
"Mamma,  I  am  transmogrified 
With  anguish;  yet  I  touched  the  thing 
So  very  gently."    "Hence  the  sting," 
The  philosophic  dame  replied; 
"My  little  son,  next  time  you  touch 
A  Nettle,  firmly  grasp  and  clutch, 
And  it  will  feel  as  soft  as  silk, 
And  hurt  no  more  than  Ass's  milk." 

Moral. 

This  tale  has  good  advice  no  doubt; 
And  yet  I'd  hate  to  try  it  out. 

110 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 


THE  PARTRIDGE  AND  THE  FOWLER. 

A  Fowler  caught  a  Partridge;  but 
The  Partridge  begged  him  not  to  cut 
His  head  asunder,  screaming :  "Pray, 
Master,  let  me  live  my  day! — 
And  for  you  I  will  entice 
Many  Partridges."     "Thou  thrice 
Accursed  creature,"  said  the  man; 
"Sizzle  thou  in  baking  pan! — 
I've  less  scruple  now,  pardee, 
In  vigorously  slaughtering  thee, — 
Who  think'st  to  save  thy  neck  at  cost 
Of  thine  own  kin  betrayed  and  lost." 

Moral. 

0  Bird,  most  base  and  cowardly, 

1  wish  I'd  had  a  Hack  at  thee. 


THE   BALD   KNIGHT. 

A  Bald-pate  Knight,  a  dwarfish  Runt 
With  flanging  ears,  went  forth  to  hunt. 
A  puff  of  wind  blew  off  his  wig 
And  spun  it  like  a  whirligig 
Across  the  fields.    His  friend  began 
To  wink  and  laugh.    The  little  Man, 
Reining  his  horse  and  rising  high: 
"Aye,  aye,  I  eye  your  eye,  eye,  eye ! 
And  since  you  choose  to  gird  me  thusly, 
I  answer  you  cacophanously ! — 

111 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

What  marvel  that  these  borrowed  hairs 
Should  fly  away  so  unawares, 
When  those  that  once  were  truly  mine 
Forsook  me  likewise — ai,  yai,  yine!" 

Moral. 

'Twas  most  unfortunate  the  wind 
And  circumstances  so  combined 
To  spoil  the  pleasure  of  Sir  Runt 
That  morning  as  he  went  to  hunt; 
But  no  true  courtier  will  condone 
His  childish  petulance  of  tone. 


THE  ROSE  AND  THE  AMARANTH. 

The  Amaranth  unto  the  Rose 
(Each  growing  in  one  garden-close) 
Wailed  about  her  plain  exterior — 
Felt  that  Rose  was  much  superior: 
"Glorious  Flower,  bright  your  bloom, 
Sweet  your  form  and  your  perfume." 
"Amaranth,  O  Amaranth,". . 
Cried  the  hapless  Rose  with  anth- 
Ropomorphic  sense  of  doom, 
//  no  hand  do  pluck  me,  / 
Last  one  season,  ere  I  die — 
Thou,  as  proves  thy  name  to  men, 
Art  immortal,  ever  free. 
Hast  thou  then  no  comprehen- 
Sibility — sibility? — 
Needest  not  to  envy  me." 

112 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  1ESOP 


Moral. 

The  more  we're  favored  by  the  gods, 
The  more  we  wail  about  the  odds. 


THE  MOTHER  AND  THE  WOLF. 

A  Wolf  one  morn  in  search  of  pottage, 
Bone,  or  bread-crust,  passed  a  cottage, 
And  heard  the  dame  remark  unto 
Her  little  girl-in-arms:  "If  you 
Don't  stop  your  crying,  I  will  pitch 
You  out  the  window,  after  which 
The  Wolf  will  come  and  eat  you."— "That," 
Observed  the  Wolf,  "'s  worth  waiting  for." 
And  so  he  squatted  at  the  door, 
Till  toward  eve  the  Mother  sat 
And  crooned  a  lullaby  and  said: — 
"If  old  Wolf  come,  if  old  Wolf  come, 
We'll  kill  him  dead,  we'll  kill  him  dead"— 
Whereat  the  Wolf  he  scampered  home, 
With  hunger  gaping  and  with  cold. 
Then  Mistress  Wolf  began  to  scold: 
"Why  this,  why  this? — you've  nothing  then 
To  stock  the  cupboard  of  our  den? — 
Why  this?"— "Because,"  the  Wolf  averred, 

Moral. 

"I  trusted  in  a  woman's  word." 
113 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 


THE  FOWLER  AND  THE  RING-DOVE. 

A  Fowler  took  his  gun  and  went 

Into  the  woods  on  shooting  bent; 

And  on  an  oak  limb  up  above 

Among  the  leaves  he  spied  a  Dove. 

He  clapped  his  gun  against  his  shoulder, 

And  set  his  foot  upon  a  boulder; 

But  as  his  finger  was  about 

To  pull  the  trigger  and  let  out 

The  lethal  shot,  an  Adder  which 

He  trod  upon  began  to  twitch. 

It  darted  back  and  forth  its  head 

And  through  his  calf  its  poison  shed. 

In  vain  the  Fowler  dropped  his  gun ; 

And  good  Saint  Patrick  called  upon; 

In  vain  he  took  a  sudden  swig 

From  out  a  bottle  brown  and  big. 

The  moon  arose,  the  winds  were  sighing, — 

The  Fowler  lay  a-mortifying. 

Moral. 

O  roam  the  woodland  and  the  wild, 

But  do  not  shoot  the  birds,  my  Child ; 

For  Mr.  Audubon  and  others 

Have  told  us  that  they  be  our  brothers. 

(And  yet  I  wonder  if  the  snake 

Was  stinging  for  the  Ring-dove's  sake.) 


114 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  &SOP 


THE  OAKS  AND  JUPITER. 

The  Oaks  with  melancholy  air 
Complained  to  sovereign  Jupiter: 
"We  bear  the  load  of  life  in  vain; 
Of  all  the  trees  on  hill  or  plain — 
Birch  or  butternut  or  beech, 
Cherry-tree  or  pear  or  peach, 
Eucalyptus  or  allaxis — 
We  suffer  most  from  hacks  of  axes." 
"The  cause,"  replied  the  king  of  gods, 
"Is  due  to  neither  spites  nor  frauds, — 
But  lies  within  yourselves,  my  Oaks: 
For  were  you  not  a  boon  to  folks, 
Above  all  woods  for  posts  and  rails, 
For  roof-trees,  handles,  staves,  and  pails, 
No  man  would  come  in  leathern  boots 
With  hacks  of  axes  on  your  roots." 

Moral. 

Unusual  gifts  for  doing  good 
May  cost  us  dearer  than  we  would. 


THE  BULL,  THE  LIONESS,  AND  THE  WILD-BOAR 
HUNTER. 

A  Bull  once  gored  a  Lion's  Kitten. 
The  Lioness  was  sorely  smitten. 
A  Wild-Boar  Hunter  said  afar: 
"But  think  how  many  Dames  there  are 

115 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Who  wail  for  offspring  which  you,  you 
Did  pounce  upon  and  slay  and  chew." 

Moral. 

When  Fate  has  got  us  by  the  croup, 
There's  nothing  left  to  do  but  stoop; 
And  least  of  all  it  helps  to  know 
We  used  to  handle  others  so. 


THE  FOX  AND  THE  MONKEY. 

A  Fox  and  Monkey,  bright  and  merry, 
Once  traveled  through  a  cemetery: 
"Behold  these  mighty  monuments, 
Erected  at  such  vast  expense 
In  honor  of  my  ancestors" — 
Exclaimed  the  Monkey  on  all  fours. 
Replied  the  Fox :  "You've  chosen  well 
The  subject  of  the  tale  to  tell— 
For  all  your  ancestors  are  dumb 
And  not  a  one  of  them  can  come 
To  contradict." 

Moral. 

When  with  the  wise, 
Be  careful,  Children,  of  your  lies. 


THE  LION  AND  THE  FOUR  BULLS. 

A  Lion  long  with  grief  had  viewed 
Four  bulls  who  evermore  pursued 

116 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  &SOP 

Their  ways  together,  being  friends 
Thus  to  conserve  their  mutual  ends. 
Afraid  all  four  to  bid  defiance, 
He  strove  to  sunder  the  alliance. 
By  divers  whispers,  hints,  and  shrugs 
(More  potent  far  than  charms  and  drugs) 
He  soon  fomented  such  suspicions 
As  altered  sadly  old  conditions. 
Each  Bull  went  sulking  off  in  huff 
And  gave  the  Lion  chance  enough; 
And  with  his  energetic  paws 
He  then  prepared  them  for  his  jaws 
One  after  other. 

Moral. 

Two  old  saws: 

"Remain  united  or  you  lose;" 
And  "Evil  tongues  can  play  the  deuce." 

THE  ASS  AND  THE  THISTLE. 

An  Ass,  with  good  provisions  laden 

(Prepared  by  housewife,  cook,  and  maiden), 

Once  walking  out  at  harvesting 

The  reapers'  dinners  for  to  bring, 

Did  by  the  path  along  the  field 

Espy  a  thistle,  and  did  yield 

To  that  old  impulse  asinine 

Upon  the  thistle  for  to  dine. 

And  thus  reflected:  "To  be  sure, 

How  many  a  greedy  Epicure 

117 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

His  salivated  lips  would  smack 
If  his  these  viands  in  the  sack 
I  carry  on  my  assy  back. 
And  yet  to  me  the  prickly  thistles 
Are  much  more  worth." 

Moral. 

See  Paul's  Epistles, 
Or  any  philosophic  treatises, 
Like  Socrates's,  Epictetus's 
Or  Emerson's,  Aurelius's; 
Each  one  convincingly  discusses 
The  truth  that  pain  and  pleasure  be 
Dependent  on  the  inner  me, 
And  wrought  through  subjectivity. 


HERMES  AND  THE  SCULPTOR. 

Hermes,  determining  to  know  how  mortals 

Regarded  him,  once  entered  by  the  portals 

A  Sculptor's  studio.     (He  might,  'tis  true 

Have  entered  by  the  window  or  the  flue, 

Had  he  not  ta'en  the  stature  of  a  man 

To  hide  his  deity  Olympian.) 

And  having  cast  his  eye  about,  he  said: 

"How  much  for  Zeus's  and  for  Here's  head — 

Those  busts  o'er  yonder?" — pointing  to  a  shelf. 

"So,  so,  good,  good — "  Then,  near  by  them,  himself 

Espying  in  marble,  he  remarked:  "And  this, 

I  take  it's  rather  dearer,  since  it  is 

Image  of  Hermes,  Messenger  of  Heaven, 

118 


FABLES  ADAPTED  FROM  JESOP 

Through  whom  to  thee  prosperity  is  given." 
The  Sculptor:  "Well,  if  you  will  buy  these  other, 
About  a  price  for  that  we  needn't  bother — 
I'll  fling  you  that  one  in  for  luck  and  jest." 
Hermes  departed,  silent  and  depressed. 

Moral. 

O  gods  and  men,  it  hardly  ever  pays 
To  go  about  a-snooping  after  praise. 

THE  LARK  AND  THE  FARMER. 

A  Lark  whose  nest  was  in  the  field 

Which  soon  a  ripened  crop  would  yield, 

Instructed  well  her  little  brood, 

As  forth  she  flew  in  search  of  food, 

To  make  report  of  every  word 

That  in  her  absence  might  be  heard. 

When  back  she  came,  the  Young  Ones  fell 

To  chirping  madly,  and  pell-mell 

To  quiver  round  her:  "Mama  Lark, 

O  fetch  us  off  before  'tis  dark ! 

The  Farmer  said  unto  his  son: 

'To-morrow  early  up  and  run 

To  all  the  neighbors  of  the  plain, 

That  they  may  help  us  reap  the  grain.'  " 

The  old  Lark  twittered:  "Cease  your  sorrow; 

The  grain  will  not  be  reaped  to-morrow." 

Next  day  when  back  she  flew  again, 

The  Young  Ones  chirped  a  like  refrain: 

"O  Mama  Lark,  O  Mama  Lark, 

119 


/ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

O  fetch  us  off  before  'tis  dark! 

The  Farmer  said  unto  his  son: 

'Of  all  our  neighbors  never  one 

It  seems  can  be  depended  on. 

To-morrow  early  up  and  run 

To  all  our  cousins  of  the  plain 

That  they  may  help  us  reap  the  grain.' " 

The  old  Lark  twittered:  "Cease  your  sorrow; 

The  grain  will  not  be  reaped  to-morrow." 

Next  day  when  back  she  flew  again, 

The  Young  Ones  chirped  a  like  refrain: 

"O  Mama  Lark,  O  Mama  Lark, 

O  fetch  us  off  before  'tis  dark! 

The  Farmer  said  unto  his  son: 

'With  kin  and  neighbors  I  am  done. 

To-morrow  early  up  and  bring 

Two  sickles  and  the  binding  string; 

And  we  together  will  proceed 

To  reap  the  grain.' "    The  Old  Lark:  "We'd 

Do  well  to  quit  this  nest  indeed." 

Moral. 

When  men  at  last  are  forced  by  fate 
To  work,  they  won't  procrastinate. 


120 


PART  II. 
ORIGINAL  FABLES. 

Though  ^sop,  sage  narrator,  covered  much, 
Some  points  on  this  our  life  he  failed  to  touch. 


121 


ORIGINAL  FABLES 


THE  BEAR  AND  THE  OWL. 

A  famished  Bear,  whose  foot  was  clenched 
Within  a  murderous  engine,  wrenched 
And  bounced  about  in  fright  and  pain 
Around  the  tree  that  held  the  chain, 
Emitting  many  a  hideous  howl. 
His  state  was  noticed  by  an  Owl, 
Who,  perched  above  him  fat  and  free, 
Philosophized  from  out  the  tree: 
"Of  what  avail  this  fuss  and  noise? — 
The  thing  you  need,  my  Bear,  is  poise." 

Moral. 

Such  counsels  are  most  sage,  we  know — 
But  often  how  malapropos! 


THE  BALD   MAN  AND  THE  BEE. 

A  Bald  Man  fished  upon  a  bank: 
The  air  was  hot ;  the  ground  was  dank ; 
No  fish  would  bite;  and  large  supplies 
Of  woodticks,  skeeters,  fleas,  and  flies, 
In  yonder  marsh  and  meadow  bred, 
Crawled  unmolested  o'er  his  head, 
With  many  a  tickle,  sting  and  itch. 
He  wouldn't  budge,  he  wouldn't  twitch; 
But,  trusting  in  the  universe, 
He  fished  away  from  bad  to  worse. 
At  length  it  chanced  a  vicious  Bee 
From  out  the  thicket  in  his  rear 

123 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Sped  forth  with  much  alacrity 

And  pierced  him  with  its  little  spear — 

Just  where  his  cowlick  used  to  be. 

The  Bald  Man  slowly  raised  his  hand: 

"Now  that's  enough,  now  that's  enough — 

For  this,  I'd  have  you  understand 

(He  sweeps  his  pate),  you'll  all  get  off." 

Moral 

Though  one  may  be  an  optimist, 
A  Stoic,  Christian  Scientist, 
And  fish  or  fiddle  with  assurance, 
There  is  a  limit  to  endurance. 


THE  LION,  THE  LIONESS,  AND  HER  KINSFOLK. 

A  Lion  had  a  Lioness 

That  got  to  ailing  more  or  less. 

He  walked  with  her  in  woodland  air, 

He  found  a  more  salubrious  lair, 

He  foraged  round  for  little  lambs 

And  cooked  their  juiciest,  tenderest  hams, 

He  washed  the  plates  and  set  on  shelf, 

And  put  the  cubs  to  bed  himself. 

But  just  as  she  again  was  cheered, 

Her  mother,  sisters,  aunts  appeared — 

With  twenty  different  bottles,  pills, 

And  powders,  naming  twenty  ills, 

Until  the  creature,  weak  and  wan, 

From  out  this  foolish  world  was  gone. 

124 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 


Moral. 

O  Busy-Bodies  at  the  door, 

How  much  you  have  to  answer  for! 


THE  NIGHTINGALE  AND  THE  OWL. 

A  Nightingale,  in  song  excelling  all, 

And  Owl,  whose  gifts  were  astronomical, 

Sat  on  the  self-same  night  on  self-same  wall, 

And  watched   the   self-same   moon,   and   in  their 

throats 

Fashioned  from  self-same  air  their  sundry  notes, 
Yet  swapped  no  courtesies  nor  anecdotes, 
Each  wishing  other  ruined,  ripped,  and  rent. 

Moral. 

Children,  men's  hates  are  caused  to  large  extent 
By  such  diversities  of  temperament. 


THE  CROWS  AND  THE  EAR  OF  CORN. 

Three  Crows,  whose  nests  were  in  a  single  tree, 
Long  dwelt  together  in  felicity, 
Exchanging  visits,  swapping  odds  and  ends 
Of  jest  and  fancy,  as  befitting  friends; 
Till  one  fine  eve  a  farmer  passed  beneath 
And  dropped  an  Ear  of  Corn  upon  the  heath 
From  out  his  sack,  which  spied  by  all  at  once, 
All  three  together  did  upon  it  pounce; 
And  not  content  with  taking  each  a  third, 

125 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Each  Crow  most  avariciously  averred 

The  whole  was  his,  as  seen  by  him  the  first. 

Moral. 

O  cruel  lust  of  worldly  goods  accurst, 

How  many  bonds  of  friendship  hast  thou  burst! 


THE  MAN  AND  THE  HEN  AND  THE  OSTRICH 

EGG. 

A  Man  with  jerk  and  crawl  and  stoop 
Emerged  from  out  a  chicken  coop. 
And  as  he  rose,  a  child  might  see 
That  a  distracted  man  was  he. 
It  wasn't  that  his  face  was  grimy, 
It  wasn't  that  his  knees  were  slimy, 
It  wasn't  even  his  ruffled  hair 
That  gave  him  this  distracted  air. 
It  was  the  terror  in  his  eyes, 
His  forehead  knit  in  wild  surprise, 
It  was  the  frenzy  in  his  whoop 
When  rising  from  the  chicken  coop. 
He  strode  a  rod  and  back  again, 
He  strode  around  from  leg  to  leg — 
His  left  arm  held  a  cackling  Hen, 
His  right  a  monstrous  Ostrich  Egg, 
The  circumstance  was  rather  strange — 
'Twould  almost  any  man  derange. 
By  rallying  his  nerves  a  bit, 
He  halted  to  consider  it. 

126 


ORIGINAL  FABLES 

With  feet  akimbo,  shock  abated, 
'Twas  thus  he  ratiocinated: 
"I  won't  believe  it  after  all; 
It  surely  isn't  nat-ur-al." 

Moral  1. 

Don't  trust  too  much,  dear  child  to  senses, 
However  strong  the  evidences. 

Moral  2. 

A  timely  grasp  on  nature's  laws 
May  help  us  to  discover  flaws 
In  many  a  theory,  many  a  cause. 

Moral  3. 

Undue  excitement  we  may  end 
By  reason,  man's  supernal  friend. 

Moral  4. 

When  one's  belief  is  premature 
Reflection  is  the  only  cure. 

THE  TWO  DOGS  AND  THE  PEACEFUL  MAN. 

One  day  a  Bull-dog  and  his  Wife 

Fell  to  it  in  domestic  strife 

And  gave  some  lively  exhibitions 

Of  woeful  marital  conditions. 

It  chanced  the  Peaceful  Man  did  sally 

That  moment  down  along  the  alley 

And  in  the  interests  of  remating 

127 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Began  at  once  expostulating; 
And  getting  each  one  by  the  scruff, 
The  Peaceful  man  was  rather  gruff. 
The  Dogs,  at  this  intrusion  nettled, 
Forthwith  their  differences  settled, 
A  common  purpose  now  controlling. 
The  Peaceful  Man  went  raving,  rolling — 
With  little  heart  to  dilly-dally, 
And  left  two  coat-tails  in  the  alley. 
(And  when  one's  robbed  of  raiment  thusly 
He  runneth  rather  ludi-crous-ly.) 

Moral. 

Avoid  domestic  interference, 
For  it  may  ruin  your  appearance. 

THE  DOG  AND  THE  KETTLE. 

A  Kettle,  swinging  on  a  crane, 

Sang  a  most  contented  strain, 

And  puffed,  as  if  with  self-esteem, 

From  out  its  nozzle  jets  of  steam. 

A  Dog,  who  dozed  upon  the  settle, 

Was  irritated  by  the  Kettle; 

With  thoughtless  bounce  he  clasped  its  nose 

Between  his  teeth,  as  if  to  close 

At  once  its  singing  and  existence. 

The  Kettle  offered  no  resistance — 

Continuing  unperturbed  at  ease 

The  natural  functions  of  its  being: 

The  Dog,  however,  turns  and  flees, 

128 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 

As  if  all  life's  activities 
Concentered  in  the  act  of  fleeing; 
And  out  along  the  village  ditches 
In  agonies  he  rolls  and  pitches, 
Imbedding  now  and  then  his  face 
In  some  soft  cooling  oozy  place. 

Moral. 

Before  expressing  too  directly 
Whate'er  your  hate  of  this  or  that  is, 
Examine  rather  circumspectly 
The  nature  of  the  apparatus. 


THE  MAN  AND  THE  SQUIRRELS. 

A  queer  suburban  Gentleman 
Was  strolling  with  a  palm-leaf  fan, 
With  philosophic  step  and  slow, 
And  pate  a-nodding  to  and  fro, 
Across  the  lawn  that  sloped  you  know 
Around  his  leafy  bungalow. 
He  marked  the  skipping  Squirrels  pause 
Upon  their  haunches  with  their  paws 
Against  their  bosoms,  each  with  head 
Atilt  and  bowed.    And  then  he  said: 
"I  think  I  can  explain  the  cause. 
All  men  perceive  how  great  I  am, 
And  even  the  Squirrels  here  salaam; 
And  could  they  speak,  they  wouldn't  fail 
To  add,  'O  gracious  Master,  hail/  " 

129 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Whereat  he  tossed  unto  the  dumb 
A  largesse  of  a  nut  and  crumb. 

Moral  1. 

O  blest  is  he  who  can  construe 
Whatever  other  people  do, 
To  suit  his  pride  and  point  of  view. 

Moral  2. 

And  blest  is  he  whose  self-conceit 
Yet  gives  the  hungry  things  to  eat. 

THE  TOAD. 

One  glittering  morning  after  rain, 

From  crevice  in  the  wall,  again 

Into  the  middle  of  the  road 

There  pops  and  hops  a  hungry  Toad. 

He  snappeth,  gulpeth  worm  on  worm, 

And  feels  them  tickle  as  they  squirm 

Within  his  paunch,  until  its  size 

(The  while  he  squats  with  blinking  eyes) 

Bulges  out  his  knees  and  thighs. 

An  ass  comes  on  with  sturdy  stride: 

The  Toad  he  thinks  to  move  aside; 

Yet  each  attempt  at  hop  and  spring 

But  sets  his  frame  aquivering — 

He  cannot  budge. . .  .And  with  a  thud 

The  hoof  imprints  him  on  the  mud. 

Moral. 

Whether  your  fare  be  worms  or  mutton, 
O  Toad  or  Man,  don't  be  a  glutton. 

130 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 


THE  PARROT. 

A  Parrot,  shipped  across  the  sea 
From  Africa  when  young  was  he, 
Became  a  lonely  widow's  pet. 
The  cage  was  by  the  window  set; 
And  in  the  sun  the  passers-by 
Could  see  the  opal-jeweled  eye, 
The  scarlet  tail,  the  ebon  beak 
Thick-set  against  a  whitish  cheek, 
And  that  magnificence  of  gray 
On  wing  and  back  and  breast,  and  they 
Remarked,  "It  is  a  splendid  dream, 
A  most  successful  color  scheme. 

0  Psittacus  erithacus, 

We're  glad  to  have  you  here  with  us." 
The  widow,  both  from  sense  of  duty 
And  natural  pride,  baptized  him  "Beauty.' 

1  will  not  dwell  on  Beauty's  feats: 
The  peanuts  how  he  cracks  and  eats, 
A-perch  and  holding  in  his  claw, 
Then  gargling  them  into  his  maw 
With  lifted  head,  beside  the  cup, 
The  widow's  always  filling  up — 
The  way  he  waddles  round  the  floor 
When  mistress  opes  his  cage's  door — 
The  words  he  speaks,  so  shrill  and  mystic, 
And  preternatur'ly  linguistic — 

I  will  not  mention,  for  my  aim 
Is  to  expound  his  fateful  name. 
Ere  many  moons,  there  came  o'er  him 

131 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

An  itching  in  his  every  limb — 

But  whether  caused  by  frequent  bites 

Of  horrid  little  parasites, 

Or  by  the  harsh  New  England  climate 

(That  ruins  many  a  lusty  Primate, 

And  hence  might  possibly  nonplus 

A  tender,  an  oviparous, 

A  tropic  bird),  or  by  some  particles 

In  wretchedly  digested  articles, 

We  have  slight  reason  to  suspect. 

At  any  rate,  he  clawed  and  pecked 

With  all  his  passion,  intellect, 

And  sinews  of  his  bill  and  foot, 

Upon  his  feathers  to  the  root. 

Now  Beauty's  tail  was  but  a  stump 

That  ill-concealed  a  tragic  rump, 

Now  Beauty's  wing-bones  both  were  bare, 

And  ghastly  purple  was  the  skin 

That  held  his  bulging  gullet  in, 

And  in  his  eye  a  vacant  stare ; 

And,  as  his  remnants  there  he  sunned, 

Men  saw  that  he  was  moribund. 

Moral. 

Don't  call  your  bird  or  offspring  by 
A  name  his  future  may  belie. 

THE  CORPUSCLE  AND  THE  PHAGOCYTE  AND 
THE  STREPTOCOCCUS/ 

A  Corpuscle  began  to  fight 
Absurdly  with  a  Phagocyte: 

132 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 

"Indeed,"  he  said,  "I'm  round  and  red, 

And  keep  a  man  from  falling  dead. 

I  give  him  brains  and  nerve  and  muscle," 

Remarked  the  little  red  Corpuscle. 

The  Phagocyte:  "And  I  am  white, 

And  but  for  me  you'd  perish  quite; 

I  go  afloating  round  the  serum, 

And  when  I  spy  the  bugs  I  queer  'em; 

You  owe  your  work,  your  freedom,  joy 

To  me,  the  Phagocyte,  my  boy." 

But  then  a  stalwart  Streptococcus — 

Whose  sterner  functions  needn't  shock  us — 

Seeing  his  foe  was  occupied 

With  learned  questions  on  the  side, 

Swooped  down  and  bit  him  till  he  died. 

And  then  the  red  Corpuscle  cried: 

"Nature  appoints,  as  well  she  should, 

To  each  his  task — and  each  is  good; 

Even  though  the  Streptococcus  be 

At  last  the  best    of  all  the  three." 

Moral. 

The  wretched  Corpuscle  has  stated 
The  moral — which,  if  syndicated 
And  widely  pondered,  might  prevent 
Our  present  social  discontent. 

THE  GEESE  OF  ATHABASCA. 

Candidas  anser. — Lucretius,  IV,  681. 
Somewhat  southward  from  Alaska 
Lie  the  moors  of  Athabasca; 

133 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 

And  in  these  bleak  uncouth  dominions — 

So  far  detached  from  our  opinions 

That  none  can  ever  misconstrue 

The  tale  I  want  to  tell  to  you — 

There  gathered  at  the  equinox 

Some  eager  migratory  flocks 

Of  ganders,  geese,  and  goslings — and 

The  ganders  had  the  upper  hand, 

Debating  with  a  gaping  mouth 

On  whom  to  choose  to  lead  them  south. 

In  spite  of  casual  disgressing 

They  thought  the  matter  was  progressing, 

When  all  the  geese  began  to  flap 

With  wings,  and  cackle  too,  and  rap 

With  bills  on  sundry  sticks  and  stocks 

And  crane  their  necks  around  the  flocks. 

Their  actions,  though  surprising,  new, 

(Bizarre  at  times  it  may  be,  too), 

Betrayed  such  aim  and  fervor,  surely 

One  shouldn't  chide  them  prematurely, 

And  fiery  hot  as  salamanders, 

They  much  impressed  the  puzzled  ganders, 

Who  paused  and  pondered  in  their  pates, 

What  their  vociferating  mates 

Intended  by  these  frantic  states. 

"Give  us"  they  cry,  "a  chance  to  say 

Who  'tis  shall  guide  us  on  our  way ; 

Give  us"  they  cry,  "a  voice,  a  voice — 

Who  shares  the  risk,  should  share  the  choice." 

And  now  and  then  from  some  old  goose 

More  deft,  it  seems,  in  logic's  use, 

134 


ORIGINAL  FABLES 

The  ganders  heard  reflections  meant 

To  ridicule  their  government, 

As  antiquated  precedent, 

And  divers  observations  tending 

To  show  how  much  it  needed  mending — 

The  more,  since  geese  were  different. 

One  says:  "Our  judgment  lacks  in  poise, 

And  all  we  do  is  make  a  noise? — 

But  can't  we  tell  as  well  as  you 

Where  trees  are  green  and  skies  are  blue?" 

Another:  "You,  sirs,  should  elect, 

Since  'tis  your  business  to  protect? — 

Define  protection. . .  .more  than  skill 

In  thrusting  out  an  angry  bill 

With  anserine  intent  to  kill. 

Our  wings  are  weapons,  sirs,  as  good — 

When  clasped  around  the  little  brood." 

Another:  "Yes,  the  goslings,  goslings? — 

Now  that's  a  point  that's  full  of  puzzlings 

For  these  our  ganders — Hear  my  queries ! — 

Have  we  no  business  with  the  dearies? — 

Have  we  no  right  at  all  to  say 

Who's  fit  to  lead  them  on  the  way?" 

And  then  a  younger  goose,  an  active 

And  in  her  person  most  attractive, 

Remarked  with  widely  parted  lips 

That  put  her  eyeballs  in  eclipse : 

"We  wouldn't  be  so  charming, — pooh! — 

If  we  should  choose  along  with  you? 

You  wouldn't  like  to  see  us  sniffle, 

And  wrangle  round — O  piffle,  piffle : 

135 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 

The  fact  is,  nature  made  us  so 

That  nothing  we  might  undergo 

Could  take  that  something  from  us  which 

Oft  gives  your  heartstrings  such  a  twitch. 

And  furthermore,  you'd  better  drop 

The  sugar-plum  and  lollypop — 

That  sort  of  argument  won't  please 

The  intellectual  type  of  geese." 

"The  intellect,  the  intellect," 

Another  cries,  "they  don't  suspect — 

And  think  the  issue  to  confuse 

By  queer  domestic  interviews 

About  our  functions  and  the  aim — 

As  if  the  privilege  we  claim 

Might  shrink  the  size  and  number  of 

The  eggs  we  lay,  the  chicks  we  love." 

I  do  not  note  for  special  causes 

The  interjections  and  applauses. 

"Give  us,"  they  cry  again,  "  a  voice, 

Who  share  the  risk  should  share  the  choice" 

And  though  some  points  might  need  apology, 

As  shaky  in  their  sociology, 

That  cry  appealed  to  instincts,  reason — 

So  ganders  yielded  for  the  season. 

But  whether  it  became  a  practice 

In  future  times,  and  what  the  fact  is 

About  the  sex  of  guide  and  leader 

The  muse  conceals  from  bard  and  reader, 

Assuring  only  that  they  ne'er 

Had  made  a  trip  more  safe  and  fair 

Down  the  continental  air, 

136 


ORIGINAL  FABLES 

From  the  moors  of  Athabasca, 
Somewhat  southward  of  Alaska, 
From  those  bleak,  uncouth  dominions 
So  far  detached  from  our  opinions 
That  none  can  ever  misconstrue 
The  tale  I  here  have  told  to  you. 

THE  DUCK  AND   THE  NIGHTINGALE. 

An  ancient  Duck,  complacent,  fat, 
Whose  miserable  habitat 
Had  been  the  stagnant  pool  behind 
The  barnyard  of  Boeotian  hind, — 
Save  when  she  waddled  by  the  fence 
Among  the  roosters  and  the  hens, 
To  snap  with  bony  bill  at  corn 
Her  owner  scattered  every  morn, 
Or  when  within  the  crib  she  sate 
To  hatch  her  eggs  and  meditate, — 
Began  to  make  some  slight  pretense 
To  wisdom  and  experience. 
She  heard  at  dark  a  Nightingale 
At  no  great  distance  down  the  dale — 
The  winged  Nightingale  who'd  flown 
In  every  sky,  in  every  zone, 
And  sung  while  moon  or  morning  star 
Descended  over  hills  afar  — 
And  thus  the  Dame  began  to  quack: 
"O  Nightingale,  you'll  surely  crack 
That  voice  of  yours,  unless  your  soul 
Can  learn  a  little  self-control; 

137 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Try  settling  down  and  doing  good, 
And  earn  a  sober  livelihood." 

Moral. 

Conceited  ignorance  with  ease 
Pronounces  its  banalities. 


THE  POODLE  AND  THE  PENDULUM. 

A  Poodle,  wistful-eyed  and  glum, 

Sate  looking  at  a  Pendulum, 

That  with  a  steady  tick  and  tock, 

Before  the  wall,  beneath  the  clock, 

Swang  back  and  forth  its  brazen  disk. 

The  Poodle  gave  his  tail  a  whisk. 

A  sudden  thought  had  crossed  his  brain — 

"What  once  it  did,  it  does  again, 

Again,  again,  again,  again." 

For  you  could  scarce  expect  a  Poodle 

And  his  fuzzy-wuzzy  noodle 

Forsooth  at  once  to  comprehend 

The  mechanism  and  the  end. 

The  Poodle's  head,  with  both  his  eyes 

And  both  his  ears  of  goodly  size, 

Began  to  nod  from  right  to  left 

As  if  of  every  sense  bereft, 

With  a  rhythmic  motion  mocking 

Both  the  ticking  and  the  tocking. 

The  Pendulum  had  first  surprised  him — 

But  now  't  had  surely  hypnotized  him. 

With  every  tick  and  every  nod 

138 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 

(So  odd,  so  odd,  so  odd,  so  odd) 

He  gave  a  sudden  little  yelp; 

But  no  one  came  to  hold  or  help — 

Or  whistle,  or  provide  a  bone, 

Or  snap  a  finger,  throw  a  stone, 

Or  do  a  thing  upon  the  lists 

Prescribed  by  psycho-therapists, 

When  Poodles  or  when  Men  get  notions 

From  neurasthenical   emotions. 

And,  since  no  Poodle  can  sustain 

Existence  on  this  mortal  plain 

Long  by  only  yelps  and  nods, 

He  passed  unto  the  Poodle-gods. 

The  Pendulum  observed  his  jerk, 

But  kept  unflustered  at  its  work. 

Moral. 

Don't  get  to  looking  at  devices 
That  tend  to  cause  a  mental  crisis. 


THE  SHINGLE. 

(Dedicated  to  that  solid  citizenship  of  our  country 
that  brooks  no  interference  on  the  part  of  the  effete  and 
the  unpatriotic  in  setting  up  its  own  architectural  monu 
ments.) 

I.  The  Committee  Meeting. 

Our  honest  Paul  and  Pete  and  Bill, 
With  heels  upon  the  window  sill, 
Sat  musing,  as  the  light  grew  dim, 
On  a  memorial  for  Jim. 

139 


3ESOP  AND  HYSSOP 

The  funds,  collected  from  the  neighbors, 

Who  well  remembered  Jamie's  labors, 

Lay  on  the  table  at  their  backs 

In  several  little  leather  sacks. 

The  question  was,  what  man  was  fit 

To  shape  the  right  design  for  it. 

Said  Paul,  in  a  judicial  vein 

The  while  he  toyed  with  fob  and  chain, 

"There's  none  can  set  o'er  Jamie's  bones 

A  prettier  piece  than  Carlton  Coans. 

I  often  see  him  at  the  dairy 

When  business  isn't  pressing  very; 

He'll  take  a  half-pound  butter-brick, 

And  pinch  it  thin  and  press  it  thick, 

And  in  its  sides  his  fingers  stick, 

And  make  you  billikins  and  boats 

And  little  cows  and  nanny  goats — 

I  tell  you,  he  can  do  it  slick." 

Said  Pete,  the  while  he  slapped  away 

A  fly  upon  his  pate  at  play, 

And  Bill,  with  sturdy  thumbs  at  rest 

Within  the  armlets  of  his  vest, 

"There's  nothing  further  to  discuss; 

Coans  is  indeed  the  man  for  us." 

II.  In  the  Studio. 

Next  morn  with  solemn  steps  and  slow 
To  Coans  the  sage  committee  go. 
They  found  him  in  the  shed  guffawing 
Before  a  nail  that  he  was  drawing; 
His  fancy  triumphed  over  death — 

140 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 

The  man  could  even  draw  his  breath. 

So  on  a  Shingle  with  a  chalk 

Coans  made  his  cleverest  notions  talk — 

Some  lines  to  this  side  and  to  that, 

Like  whiskers  sticking  from  a  cat, 

A  row  of  circles  filled  with  dots, 

And  bits  of  filigree  in  spots, 

A  broken  column  in  the  middle, 

And  at  its  base  a  broken  fiddle 

(Which,  though  it  gave  some  folks  the  colic, 

Was  most  appropriate  and  symbolic). 

And  all  around  the  outer  parts 

Our  Coans  was  strong  on  eggs-and-darts. 

And  though  they  couldn't  quite  make  out 

Exactly  what  'twas  all  about, 

And  though  they  couldn't  see  completely 

Just  how  'twould  work  in  stone  concretely, 

They  took  the  plan — assured  by  Coans 

He'd  make  things  right  with  Jamie's  bones. 

///.  The  Exhibit. 

They  set  the  Shingle  with  the  price 
At  Whitcomb's  by  a  pail  of  rice, 
That  every  one  contributing 
Might  have  a  chance  to  see  the  thing. 
In  popped  the  village  editor, 
And  burst  in  a  sardonic  roar, 
"A  monument  like  that,"  he  saith, 
"Adds  a  new  terror  unto  death." 
Says  Paul  with  wistful  soul  and  grim, 
"If  you  had  known  our  brother  Jim, 

141 


MSOP  AND   HYSSOP 

You  wouldn't  make  such  fun  of  him." 

(I  must  admit  that  Paul's  objection 

Is  scarcely  clear  in  its  connection.) 

School-master  Ruskin  Norton  came, 

"My  friends,  it  is  a  sin,  a  shame; 

A  monument  like  this  will  shock, 

And  make  the  town  a  laughing  stock." 

Says  Pete,  "Young  man,  you're  very  smart, 

But  we  don't  want  your  style  of  art." 

A  sister  from  the  "Ladies'  Aid," 

While  Whitcomb  scooped  her  tea  and  weighed, 

Remarked,  "O  Bill,  O  Pete,  O  Paul, 

It  will  not  do  at  all,  at  all. 

For  love  of  Jim  who's  dead  and  gone, 

For  love  of  us  who  linger  on, 

Turn  that  forever  to  the  wall." 

Says  Bill,  "You  girls  are  always  fretting 

And  round  the  village  suff ragetting ; 

We've  got  our  notions  and  our  votes, 

And  you've  got  only  petticoats." 

IV.  Another  Committee  Meeting. 

Disgruntled  now,  and  ill  at  ease 

At  such  perverted  words  as  these, 

Once  more  the  sage  committee  sits 

And  uses  its  artistic  wits. 

Says  Paul,  "Our  Jim  was  strong  and  tough, 

And  wants  no  namby-pamby  stuff." 

Says  Pete,  "And  nothing  French  or  Attic — 

For  Jim  like  us  was  democratic." 

Says  Bill,  "And  even  if  Jim  were  not 

142 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 

The  best  and  bravest  of  the  lot, 
I'd  give  the  job  to  Coans  to  show 
This  foolish  village  what  we  know. 
It  paid  the  money — more's  the  pity — 
But  ain't  we  fellows  the  committee?" 

Moral. 

(******  mulishness, 
*     *     *     *     *     *  foolishness. 
*****    crude    condition- 
HJ     *     *     *     *   art  commission.)* 


THE  FLUGf  AND  THE  LION. 

A  Plug — I  will  not  state  the  kind, 
But  one  for  horrid  things  designed — 
With  yellow  stripes  across  his  coat, 
And  spots  of  red  around  his  throat, 
And  beady  eyes  and  two  antennae, 
And  jointed  legs,  O  many,  many, 
And  little  suckers  on  each  foot 
To  help  himself  in  staying  put, 
And  irritating  little  buzz — 
A  certain  Plug,  I  say,  there  was. 
And  though  an  entomologist 
Might  very  angrily  insist 
That  such  a  Plug  could  not  exist, 
There's  no  occasion  here  to  doubt  it, 

*  Note.     I  dare  not  set  the  moral  down, 

For  fear  some  patriots  would  frown. 

t  Etymologically,  flug  =  fl(y)  +  (b)ug. 
143 


&SOP  AND   HYSSOP 

If  you  don't  stop  to  talk  about  it. 
This  certain  Flug,  whose  weight  indeed 
Was  equal  to  an  apple-seed, 
Procured  a  while  as  dupe  and  slave 
A  tawny  Lion,  large  and  brave. 
And  though  some  foolish  naturalist 
Declare  such  things  could  not  exist, 
This  only  shows  what  slight  reliance 
Can  now  be  had  in  men  of  science, 
The  specialists  who  squint  and  grope 
With  tweezers  and  with  microscope. 
The  Flug  demanded  on  a  day 
The  Lion  help  him  take  away 
A  withered  yellow  blade  of  grass 
That  scratched  his  side  as  he  did  pass 
From  out  his  cell  when  rose  the  sun. 
The  Lion  put  his  paw  upon 
The  blade,  and  though  he  did  as  well 
As  any  Lion  in  his  place, 
He  crushed  the  wretched  sun-baked  cell, 
And  all  the  store  of  food  and  eggs. 
He  makes  a  frightened  rueful  face 
And  begs  and  begs  and  begs  and  begs, 
The  Flug  remorseless — for  in  spite 
That  Flug  was  not  a  neophyte — 
Remarks :  "I  know  you  have  some  brains, 
Some  speed  in  scouring  woods  and  plains, 
Some  resonance  of  voice,  some  force 
In  jaws  and  back  and  limb  of  course, 
And  that  the  King  of  Beasts  you  be — 
But  what  are  all  these  things  to  Me! 

144 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 


Moral. 

Work  if  you  must,  for  Thieves  and  Thugs; 
But,  children,  never  work  for  Plugs. 


THE  EPHEMERIS 

Some  people  love  their  souls  to  ease 

By  thinking  of  the  chimpanzees, 

Of  boa-constrictors  and  such  cusses, 

Or  oblong  hippopotamuses, 

Of  whales  or  crocodiles  or  gnus, 

Giraffes  and  cows  and  caribous, 

Or  (if  they  have  a  turn  for  fun) 

Of  dinosaur  or  mastodon 

And  pterodactyl  and  those  classic 

Monsters  of  the  old  Jurassic. 

'Twas  Asshur-bani-pal  who  said, 

"Men's  tastes  will  differ  till  they're  dead." 

You  all  recall  how  Aristotle 

Preferred  the  fish  that's  known  as  cuttle, 

While  the  great  sculptor  Scopas  says, 

"My  choice  shall  be  octopuses." 

And  Poggio  Bracciolini  flew 

Into  a  passion  when  they  slew 

The  egg  his  favorite  emu 

Had  laid  with  cackle  of  alarum 

Behind  Liber  Facetiarum. 

Some  people  love  such  beasts  as  these; 

But  I — without  apologies — 

I  love  the  Ephemerides. 

145 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

And  having  now  admitted  this, 

I'll  mention  an  Ephemeris 

That  one  bright  summer  morn  I  spied 

When  sitting  by  the  river  side. 

A  half-transparent  drop  of  jelly, 

With  filaments  upon  its  belly, 

It  skimmed  along  the  surface  lightly, 

Nor  plunged  beneath  it  reconditely, 

Like  some  more  bold  investigator — 

For  instance,  loon  or  alligator 

And  then  'twould  spread  its  wings  and  fare- 
A-going  up,  child,  in  the  air, 
It  knew  not  how,  it  cared  not  where, 
Till  it  collapsed,  a  bug,  a  bubble — 
Not  having  caused  me  any  trouble, 
And  certainly  not  having  done 
The  slightest  good  beneath  the  sun. 
Why  do  I  love  such  bugs  as  these 
Sportive  Ephemerides? — 
Because  I  like  to  see  them  frolic? — 
O  no;  because: 

Moral. 
They're  so  symbolic! 

THE  ASS  AND  THE  SICK  LION. 

An  Ass  mistook  the  echo  of  his  bray 
For  a  celestial  call  to  preach  and  pray; 
And  his  own  shadow,  big  upon  the  wall, 
He  deemed  the  everlasting  Lord  of  All. 
Besides  he  had  some  notions  how  to  treat 

146 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 

Sinners  and  fetch  them  to  the  mercy  seat. 

So  in  a  broad-cloth  tailored  coat,  combined 

With  a  white  collar  buttoned  up  behind, 

He  got  himself  a  parish.     In  his  flock 

Was  a  sick  Lion,  panting  on  a  rock. 

(It  was  an  arrow  from  a  huntsman's  bow 

That  laid  this  miserable  Lion  low.) 

Him  on  his  pastoral  rounds  the  Reverend  Ears 

One  morning  thus  addressed:  "These  groans  and 

tears, 

How  base  and  craven  in  the  King  of  Beasts! 
You  need  a  moral  tonic!     Godless  feasts 
And  midnight  games  and  evil  Lionesses 
Have  brought  you,  brother,  to  these  sad  distresses; 
Think  not  that  I  will  comfort  or  condole — 
My  cure  is  drastic,  but  'twill  save  your  soul." 
Whereat  he  turned  and  in  the  Lion's  face 
Planted  his  hoofs  with  more  of  speed  than  grace, 
Knocked  out  the  teeth,  and  blinded  both  the  eyes, 
And  left  him,  dying,  to  the  sun  and  flies. 

Moral. 

This  little  fable,  children,  is  a  proof 
That  no  profession,  purpose,  or  disguise 
Can  change  the  action  of  an  Ass's  hoof. 

THE  NIGHTINGALE,  THE  PRAIRIE  DOGS,  THE 
OWLS,  AND  THE  SNAKES. 

A  Nightingale  from  Athens,  where 
Promethean  chorus  filled  the  air, 

147 


3ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

And  temples,  statues,  gods,  looked  down 
On  heroes,  bards,  and  sages  there, 
Once  came  (for  reasons  hid  from  me) 
Across  the  irrevocable  sea 
And  dwelt  in  flat  and  sordid  Town 
Of  Prairie  Dogs,  and  Snakes,  and  Owls, 
The  name  whereof  was  Gossip-ville. 
The  Owls,  the  Prairie  Dogs,  the  Snakes 
Began  with  fang  and  jaw  and  bill: 
"That  Creature's  surely  no  great  shakes — 
The  stupidest  of  all  the  Fowls 
Of  Sea,  or  Air,  or  Plains,  or  Lakes! — 
Just  see  the  way  she  soars  a-wing, 
Just  hear  the  way  she  tries  to  sing, 
As  if  she  owned  the  sky  and  moon — 
She's  crazy,  or  she  will  be  soon." 

Moral. 

Alas  for  one  who  giveth  vent 
To  native  genius,  native  bent,    . 
Within  the  wrong  environment! 

THE  COW  AND  THE  OSTRICH. 

A  Cow  with  anthrax  and  the  rickets, 
Forlornly  grazing  in  the  thickets, 
Tore  off  and  swallowed  at  a  gulp 
A  leaf-hid  hornets'  nest  of  pulp. 
The  hot-feet  creatures  did  explore 
With  angry  haste  her  stomachs  four. 
And  rendered  life  to  that  same  cow 

148 


ORIGINAL  FABLES 

A  fourfold  sadder  problem  now. 

An  Ostrich,  with  long  whiskered  neck, 

Began  upon  her  ear  to  peck, 

And  chided  her  for  melancholy: 

"The  trouble's  in  yourself,  girl,  wholly — 

You  think  about  yourself  too  much — 

You're  egocentric — That  is  it!" 

Moral. 

Wise  words,  when  said  with  tactful  touch, 
Are  helpful  for  a  moping  fit. 

THE  LION  IN  PAIN. 

A  Lion  in  lands  of  old  Osiris, 
In  the  solemn  reign  of  Cyrus,* 
Splashing  midst  the  Nile's  papyrus, 
Got  a  dose  of  Adder's  virus 
Which  inflamed  his  either  iris, 
So  that  round  the  tomb  of  Cheops 
He  emitted  two  or  three  yawps. 

Moral. 

Universe  of  pain  and  yelling! — 
What's  the  use  of  our  rebelling? 

THE  STAG  AND   HIS   FRIENDS. 

A  Stag,  who'd  lost  his  favorite  Kind, 
To  keep  from  going  mad  in  mind 

*  Note.     But  if  you  rise  and  say:  "By  Isis, 

'Twas  in  the  reign  of  good  Cambyses, 
Or  that  of  Seti  or  Ramesis" — 
It  won't  affect  the  moral  thesis. 

149 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

With  grief  and  desolation,  quaffed 

The  brook  and  watched  the  fish  and  laughed 

At  shoals  of  wriggling  pollywogs, 

And  spiders  on  the  sands  and  logs; 

And  sometimes  he  would  run  and  crack 

His  antlers  on  a  hackmatack, 

And  stop  and  look  before  and  back 

And  laugh  again;  and  he  would  test 

His  strength  at  leaping  with  a  zest 

O'er  many  a  thicket,  many  a  stone; 

But  shed  no  tear,  and  gave  no  groan, 

And  never  bound  his  stalwart  shape 

With  bands  of  melancholy  crepe, 

And  never  went  at  night  to  rave 

Above  the  solitary  grave. 

(His  heart  was  bound  with  black  despair; 

The  grave  was  with  him  everywhere.) 

And  so  it  was  his  quondam  Friends — 

The  Crows,  the  Owls,  the  Bats,  the  Gends, 

The  Tookrous,  Forgers  and  the  Quail — 

Began  to  criticize  and  rail: 

"The  shameless  beast,  without  respect 

For  death  and  dead  one !    This  neglect 

Of  mortuary  decencies 

And  all  our  old  proprieties! 

Nay  more! — This  flaunting  in  our  face 

Of  heartless  mirth! — O  what  disgrace!" 

Moral. 

Some  people's  gifts  of  intellect 
Are  smaller  than  you  might  suspect. 

150 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 


LA    BELLE   DAME    SANS    MERCI. 

A  little  lady  at  the  door. 

She  stood  so  innocent  and  merry: 

She  was  a  vision  extra-or- 

Dinary. 

She  beckoned  kindly,  called  and  cooed; 
And  I  was  such  a  sombre  cuss 
That  my  alacrity  was  lud 
icrous. 

She  drew  me  in  and  sate  me  down, 
And  handed  me  her  tarts  and  tea; 
And  I  devoured  them  O  so  clown- 
Ishly. 

And  not  a  word  she  uttered  then; 
And  I  could  ne'er  the  riddle  guess: 

Moral. 

But  ever  since,  I'm  full  of  pen- 
Siveness. 


THE  PIGEON  AND  THE  SPARROW. 

A  Pigeon,  sweeping  from  the  clouds  afar, 
Lit  on  an  oozy  roof  of  pebbled  tar, 
Half  melted  in  the  summer  sun.     Her  claws 
And  wing-tips  soon  were  smeared;  and  grievous 
laws 

151 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

Of  hot  and  glutinous  viscosity 
Entangled  her.    And,  lo,  a  black  monstrosity 
Was  she,  and  helpless  as  a  sucking  farrow. 
This  was  the  reason  why  an  English  Sparrow- 
A  dapper  little  sycophant  and  wheezer — 
Popped  in  upon  her  back  and  gan  to  teaze  her, 
Picked  off  each  feather,  jabbed  in  either  eye, 
And  then  retired  in  hope  to  see  her  die, 
From  his  cool  perch  upon  a  swaying  wire. 

Moral. 

Mohammed  states  the  moral  we  require, 
In  his  great  Surah  of  "The  Bloody  Pod"— 
Thus:  "Worraps  el-tt-il  yl-saem  a-eb  t'nod!" — 
And  who  hath  sung  a  deeper  thought  or  higher ! 

THE  SINE  AND  THE  TANGENT. 

A  little  Sine— (I  do  not  mean 

A  placard  on  a  post  or  screen, 

Or  twist  of  finger  and  of  thumb 

In  language  of  the  deaf  and  dumb) — 

A  little  Sine  of  sort  you  see 

In  any  Trigonometry, 

Once  boasted  to  the  Tangent  thus 

With  petulance  cantankerous: 

"I  am  perfection;  for  I  grow 

From  ratio  to  ratio; 

I  change  from  Zero  up  to  One — 

Which  is  the  symbol  of  the  Sun." 

The  Tangent:  "Petty  simpleton, 

152 


ORIGINAL   FABLES 

From  Zero  to  Infinity 

By  many  a  marvelous  degree 

'Tis  mine  to  thrive  forevermore: 

Bow  low  thy  head,  sir,  and  adore 

The  Tangent,  symbol  most  sublime 

Of  all  of  Space  and  all  of  Time." 

Yet  whilst  they  rend  the  air  and  wrangle, 

Lo,  all  depends  upon  the  Angle — 

Lo,  both  their  natures  have  their  cause 

In  very  transcendental  laws! 

Moral. 

O  Children,  Children,  if  ye  be 
Afflicted  still  with  Surquedry, 
Remember  that  you  but  express 
The  Universe's  More  or  Less — 
It's  not  yourself,  or  ma  or  pa: 
You're  merely  small  Phen-om-en-a 
Dependent  for  your  essence  on 
A  Hysteron  and  Proteron, 
A    Cosmic   Complex   megathrogous ! — 
Which  ancient  sages  called  the  Logos. 

THE  CAT,  THE  RAVEN,  AND  THE  PUBLIC. 

A  Cat  and  Raven  quarreled  once. 
The  Cat  called  Raven  coward,  dunce, 
Lobster,  blatherskite,  poltroon, 
Blackguard,  scullion,  and  coon, 
Hatchet-face  and  scrawny  pate, 
And  other  names  I  must  not  state 

153 


1ESOP  AND   HYSSOP 

If  I  wish  this  tale  to  be 

Sound  in  its  morality. 

And  ere  the  Raven  could  reply, 

The  Cat  had  clawed  it  in  the  eye; 

And  ere  the  Raven  had  upsprung, 

The  Cat  had  bitten  off  its  tongue. 

The  Public,  ignorant  of  what 

A  handicap  the  Bird  had  got, 

Admired  its  passive  reticence 

And  said,  "What  dignity,  what  sense, 

What  lofty  self-control!     This  Raven 

Designs  not  to  answer  such  a  craven. 

Aye,  silence  is  the  wise  retort — 

It  makes  your  foe  feel  like  a  wart." 

Moral. 
It's  often  nothing  of  the  sort! 


154 


EPILOGUE, 


155 


JESOP  AND   HYSSOP 


EPILOGUE. 

Well,  here's  the  Book  of  Fables,  done 

Whilst  I  had  neither  star  nor  sun, 

And  little  cause,  good  friends,  to  jest — 

Except  one  cause,  and  that  the  best. 

I  will  explain.    Some  folks  averred 

To  one  another,  having  heard 

That  I  had  gone  to  -ZEsoping, 

"His  grief  is  but  a  paltry  sting, 

Or  else  he'd  have  no  heart  for  jokes." 

This  world  is  full  of  stupid  folks. 

We  mop  our  eye,  we  bow  our  pate, 

We  squat,  or  we  vociferate, 

Or  shuffle  round  with  rueful  faces, 

Alone  in  amateur  cases, 

When  certain  that  by  doing  so 

We'll  get  some  luxury  in  woe. 

Such  amateur  cases  are: 

A  broken  leg,  a  family  jar, 

A  house  burned  down,  a  jealous  throb, 

Or  being  fired  from  our  job. 

But  in  the  major  griefs  and  pains 

Afflicting  homo  sapiens, 

157 


EPILOGUE 

We  lift  our  heads,  our  eyes  are  dry, 

We  stalk  about,  and  we  defy — 

We  laugh — we  laugh!    'Tis  no  pretense 

Self-preservation  and  defense 

It  is  indeed.    So  desperate 

In  this  grim  world  is  now  our  state 

That  but  one  tear  were  death  and  date. 

A  major  case? — I  still  am  dumb; 

But  let  that  pass :  my  time  shall  come ! 


158 


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